SERBIA Indicators on the Level of Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety Index 2024

According to the report, Serbia continues to face significant political and social challenges that hinder its progress toward European Union membership. The separation of powers has largely deteriorated, with the executive branch exerting disproportionate control over the judiciary and the police. Senior officials, including the President, frequently exceed their constitutional authority, undermining the rule of law and weakening judicial independence. Although freedom of expression is formally guaranteed by the Constitution, in practice it is often violated. Minority and vulnerable groups remain marginalized, while the government’s narrative of economic progress primarily serves the interests of elites closely linked to those in power.

The report further emphasizes the decline of human rights and media freedoms. Serbia is classified as “partly free” (65/100), as journalists continue to face intimidation, smear campaigns, and growing self-censorship. Organizations such as Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders point to a steady deterioration in media independence, transparency, and regulation—particularly highlighting the compromised role of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM). Disinformation spread by pro-government outlets continues to distort public debate.

Finally, the authors recall the deadly collapse of the Novi Sad railway station canopy in November 2024, which claimed sixteen lives and triggered widespread protests against corruption and impunity. Students and independent journalists played a crucial role in exposing institutional abuses and demanding accountability, reflecting an emerging civic resistance to authoritarian tendencies and the erosion of democratic values.