Press freedom watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged the European Union to respond decisively to police violence against journalists in Serbia, warning that such abuses threaten the integrity of the country’s EU accession process.

The call follows the publication of the European Commission’s sixth annual Rule of Law report on July 7, which raised concerns over judicial independence, corruption and declining media freedoms in the Western Balkan nation. Serbia has been an official candidate for EU membership since 2012.

“Serbian law enforcement agencies must immediately cease the physical attacks made on journalists covering ongoing protests,” said Martin Roux, head of the RSF Crisis Desk, in a joint statement issued with several press freedom organisations.

“These attacks on media professionals are enabled by the climate of intimidation created at the highest levels of government, particularly following the anti-press statements made by President Aleksandar Vucic,” Roux added. “Serbia's EU accession process cannot continue if these blatant press freedom violations persist. European authorities must take urgent action.”

The EU report noted that “the safety of journalists has become a source of increasing concern,” alongside issues around editorial independence and media pluralism. However, RSF criticised the Commission for failing to directly address what it sees as state complicity, particularly from President Vucic and his ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

The release of the report comes amid a wave of anti-corruption protests across Serbia, now in their ninth consecutive month, sparked by the fatal collapse of a concrete awning at the Novi Sad railway station in November 2024. Opposition to Vucic has intensified, culminating in mass demonstrations and ongoing civil disobedience, including a huge protest on June 28 that drew more than 140,000 people to the streets of Belgrade.

Press groups say the media have become frequent targets of police aggression during the unrest. On July 1, freelance cameraman Aleksa Stankovic was allegedly beaten by law enforcement officers inside a van in Belgrade. The following day, journalist Vuk Cvijic of the weekly Radar was also reportedly assaulted by police.

At least 28 journalists have been attacked by police or pro-government supporters since late February, according to RSF. The group said it had documented 14 such incidents by April and warned that violence, threats, espionage and political pressure on independent media have all intensified as protests continue.

Serbia ranked 96th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2025 World Press Freedom Index, placing it seven spots below Greece—the lowest-ranked EU member state.

While the European Commission has expressed concern over media safety in Serbia, critics say Brussels must do more to hold candidate countries accountable. “The Commission does not seem to grasp the extent of these dangers, as it fails to condemn the responsibility of the head of State and the ruling party,” said Roux.