BELGRADE, 18.01.2018. – This morning, 18 January 2018, the joint Fact-Finding Mission to Serbia on media freedom and journalists’ rights commences by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) in cooperation with the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and the International Press Institute (IPI) as well as the EFJ affiliates in Serbia: the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), and the Journalists’ Union of Serbia (SINOS).
The two-day mission will meet with government representatives including the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, the Ministry of Culture’s State Secretary, the Assistant Minister for Information and Media and the state secretary for the Ministry of Justice. The delegation will also meet with a range of journalists, including victims of intimidation, and representatives from print and online news outlets, agencies, and public service and private broadcasters. In addition, the Serbian Press Council, the ombudsman and international stakeholders will also meet the delegation.
The delegation will be led by EFJ President Mogens Blicher Bjerregard. The mission will end with a press conference on Friday at 15.00 by Mogens Blicher Bjerregard, general secretary of SEEMO Oliver Vujovicand Scott Griffen, deputy director at the IPI.
Recommendations for further action will follow the mission.