Serbia's Media Regulator REM Becomes EU Priority

Slobodan Cvejić, deputy leader of the SRCE party and former member of Serbia’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), said the functioning of REM has become an urgent issue for the European Union. He argued that the ruling authorities are trying to retain control over the regulator, while opposition politicians, independent journalists, media experts and civil‑society groups have highlighted the lack of REM’s independence.

Cvejić noted that after a long period of inactivity and the presence of government propaganda, EU officials have begun to reference the REM issue in accession talks, linking it to conditions for future EU funding. He expressed doubt that President Aleksandar Vučić will facilitate a constructive appointment of REM council members, citing a halted selection process after alleged illegal parliamentary interventions, which left the body operating with limited capacity. Cvejić called on all democratic actors to stay vigilant and continue fighting for a truly independent media regulator.