Handelsblatt: Serbia Wants to Enter the EU - But Many Serbs Feel Connected to Russia
The largest country in the Western Balkans wants to enter the EU. But it is not only Russia's influence in Belgrade that is strong. Insights into a muscle game of the superpowers.
Politico: Brussels Playbook
The Balkan Free Media Initiative, Independent Journalists Association of Serbia and International Press Institute are calling on European institutions to make it clear that Serbia risks losing its pre-accession funding if the media situation in the country continues to worsen.
Euractiv: Give Teeth to the European Media Freedom Act!
Seen from Berlin, the European Media Freedom Act currently under negotiation does not need to give the European Commission any authority on media regulation, but countries in Eastern Europe and EU hopefuls in the Balkans want legislation with teeth, writes Antoinette Nikolova.
Financial Times: Western Neglect and Homegrown Troubles Afflict the Balkans
Russian disinformation is widespread in Serbia, writes Antoinette Nikolova, director of the Balkan Free Media Initiative, for euractiv.com
Euractiv: To Stop War Breaking Out in Kosovo, Media Freedom in Serbia Must be Addressed
An explosion of Russian disinformation threatened a breakout of conflict in Kosovo, highlighting the urgent need to address the declining information environment in the region, writes Antoinette Nikolova.
The Times: The Trophy Cabinet of Czech Sphinx Daniel Kretinsky: From gas pipes and newspapers to West Ham
His growing media influence in eastern Europe is concerning groups such as the Balkan Free Media Initiative, whose advisory board includes the former BBC journalist John Sweeney. It has expressed concern about his interference in editorial policy at sites such as Info.cz. Kretinsky denies these claims, and says he is a ‘passionate advocate of the freedom of the press’.
Raskrikavanje: BFMI is Concerned About the Editorial Independence of Euronews in Serbia and Bulgaria
At the beginning of June, the Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) sent open letters to the minority owners of Euronews, as well as to the European Commission, in which they expressed concern about the launch of two new channels of this brand - Euronews Serbia and Euronews Bulgaria.
NOVA: BFMI Called on Public Broadcasters and the EC to Review their Relationship with Euronews
In an open letter published on June 3, the Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) called on 20 public broadcasters, including France Télévisions, RAI and RTE, to review their relationship with Euronews. This comes after the company's decision to enter into partnerships in Bulgaria and Serbia, identified as problematic according to the BFMI.
BFMI is concerned that Euronews' selected partners are not working to the strict editorial standards expected of the public broadcasters, which jointly own 12% of Euronews. The remaining 88% of the media is owned by Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris, through his company Média Globe Network.
AgenSIR: Balkans: Launch of Balkan Free Media Initiative to Promote Press Freedom in the Region. Nikolova (Director), “media threatened”
The Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI), a platform committed to bringing international attention, particularly Western Europe’s attention, to the growing political pressure exercised on independent media in the Balkans in recent years, has been launched.