The EU condemns the attack on Ms Štefica Galić, editor-in chief of the webportal tačno.net in Ljubuški, Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 July 2012.

The EU expects the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to thoroughly investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.

We stress the importance of ensuring that journalists in the country are able to freely fulfill their duties in safety.

We share the view of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, expressed in her press release of 20 July 2012, and we are deeply concerned by this incident.

The EU underlines that, in addition to freedom of the media, tolerance and respect between communities constitute core EU values that are highly relevant to countries with an EU membership perspective.

Freedom of the media is examined within the political criteria of the annual Progress report of the European Commission.

Lastly, we wish to reiterate our support to the work of the Representative on Freedom of the Media and to underline yet again that freedom of the media, including the safety of journalists, is a top priority for the European Union in the OSCE.

The Acceding Country Croatia*, the Candidate Countries the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Montenegro*, Iceland+ and Serbia*, the Country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Albania, and the EFTA country Norway, member of the European Economic Area, as well as the Republic of Moldova and Armenia, align themselves with this statement.

* Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland continues to be a member of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.