Johannes Hahn EC (Photo: YouTube)
Johannes Hahn, the outgoing European commissioner for neighborhood policy and enlargement negotiations, stated on Sept. 12 that countries of the Western Balkans could not progress on the path to the EU without media freedom.
In an address via video-link, Hahn told the participants of the Media Days EU-Western Balkans conference in Podgorica, Montenegro, that media freedom was under threat, not just in the Western Balkans, but also throughout the world.
According to Hahn, media freedom is "at the heart" of the EU's Strategy for the Western Balkans.
Media freedom is the key element of the rule of law and an important driver of the democratic, transformation process. There will be no progress on the EU path without the freedom of media and of expression, Hahn stated.
Christian Danielsson, the director-general for European neighborhood policy and enlargement negotiations, said that the freedom of media and of expression was the fundamental right of every citizen of Europe.
To get full access to all content of interest see our
Subscription offer
Or
Register for free
And read up to 5 articles each month.
Already have an account? Please Log in.