EFJ President: I See No Will of Authorities to Lead Serbia Toward European Media Standards

Maja Sever (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) President Maja Sever said on Oct. 16 that the question was also being asked in Europe as to whether the media environment and media regulations in Serbia were harmonized with European standards, but that she did not see a real will of the Serbian authorities to lead the country in that direction at all.
Sever told BETA that it was clear the situation regarding journalists' everyday work was even worse than on paper.

"So, to the question about whether Europe is wondering what the situation is like in Serbia, it is wondering, and I think that is a significant message for your authorities. I am not sure some things will seriously change and be approached more seriously," said the EFJ president.

She underscored that she was particularly worried by the haste with which the Serbian government had approached amendments to the media laws, adding that if those laws were reviewed in parliament together with the budget, that meant no one would seriously deal with the subject.

"I am still hoping, in vain it seems, that the intentions of your government are sincerely European, but they obviously aren't. I am worried, what are the motives for enacting laws with a 'heave-ho', when we have not yet managed to thoroughly analyze them with legal experts," said Sever.