The inaugural Steering Committee meeting for the action "Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Serbia (PROFREX-S)" took place on 22 May in Belgrade. This action is an important initiative promoting freedom of expression and of the media, supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe, bringing together prominent organisations and authorities dedicated to upholding these fundamental rights.
Representatives from the action implementing partners (the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, and the Journalists’ Association of Serbia), along with other key stakeholders (including the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, Ministry of Interior and the Ombudsperson), convened to discuss strategies and formulate an action plan aimed at contributing to building a more favourable environment for freedom of expression and an independent media landscape.
During the meeting, the partners emphasised the need to strengthen legal frameworks, promote the safety of journalists and enhance the knowledge of the European standards of the beneficiary institutions and of the people of Serbia, among other equally important aims of the action. The Committee also pledged to enhance co-operation between relevant authorities and various stakeholders.
The first Steering Committee meeting lays the foundation for future collaboration, underscoring the commitment of all partners to defend freedom of expression and protect the media's crucial role in society. By working collectively, the Committee aims to create an environment that upholds media freedom.
The action “Protecting freedom of expression and of the media in Serbia (PROFREX-S)” is part of the joint European Union and the Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”.