Journalists must be able to perform their work in full safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Attacks on media, as in the most recent case of Vladimir Kovacevic, are violations of journalists’ rights, as their safety is a precondition for free speech and free media.

The EU strongly condemns all threats and physical attacks against journalists and media freedom, and urges the law enforcement agencies in BiH to fully investigate such cases to ensure safe working conditions for all journalists.

As part of the preparation of the Commission’s Opinion on the BiH application for the EU membership, the EU is, among other things, looking into how BiH institutions deal with hate speech, attacks, threats and incitement to violence both off-line and on-line.

Freedom of expression, freedom of media and safety of journalists are major priorities for the European Union and, as part of the Copenhagen political criteria, a key aspect of the EU integration process of the Western Balkans countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are closely monitoring these issues in assessing BiH’s readiness to move closer to the EU. We expect full support from all authorities in BiH in achieving these policy priorities.