Serbia faces mounting international friction over press freedom as Reporters Without Borders documents six journalists forced into exile due to threats linked to their work, even as the European Commission pushes forward with the country’s EU accession negotiations.
EU Accession Stalls Amid Rule of Law Concerns
The European Commission’s 2026 Rule of Law Report, released in July, reached a similar conclusion, finding that “the safety of journalists further deteriorated” in Serbia. Despite these findings, the European Commission proposed opening a new cluster of chapters in Belgrade’s accession negotiations.
Did you know? According to the European Commission, Serbia is the most Eurosceptic country in the Western Balkans. The reasons are deeply rooted in the country’s politics and recent history, with some coming from the history and the war from the ’90s, reasons related to Kosovo problem, and an important part, the crucial perhaps one, being the anti-EU narratives of a good part of the media outlets close to the government.
Exile and Accountability for Serbian Journalists
Threats against Serbian journalists do not stop once they leave the country, according to RSF. So far, the police investigation into the threats has produced no results.
Vidojković is one of six Serbian journalists currently working from exile, according to RSF.
Local Disinformation Ecosystems Fuel the Crisis
The disinformation ecosystem was created locally, combining a disinformation ecosystem with a “tabloid sensationalist press”.
Meanwhile, public perception of the European Union remains deeply strained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are journalists fleeing Serbia?
According to RSF, six journalists have been forced into exile because of threats linked to their work.
Which EU countries objected to opening new accession chapters for Serbia?
Does Serbia rely on imported Russian disinformation?
No, according to Gajić, “In Serbia, there is a disinformation ecosystem which was created locally.”
Will Serbia completely break ties with the European Union?
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