SARAJEVO, September 23 (FENA) – European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced EU financial support of 7 million euros for media outlets and civil society organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasizing that independent media and civil society form the foundation of democracy, and that their “silencing” weakens society and creates space for autocracy.

Kos made the statement during her opening address at the conference “Critical Voices Under Pressure” in Sarajevo, which focuses on the challenges faced by media and civil society.

The senior EU official stressed that critical voices are under pressure not only in BiH but also in many parts of the European Union and around the world, posing a serious threat to democracy.

“The environment for positive journalism is becoming increasingly difficult worldwide, and we see independent and critical voices under growing pressure everywhere,” she said.

Kos also noted that throughout BiH, particularly in the entity of Republika Srpska, legislative initiatives threaten to restrict civic space and undermine media freedom.

Addressing media representatives directly, she acknowledged that journalists face threats and, at times, violence, as documented in European Commission reports.

She highlighted that the re-criminalization of defamation and the foreign agents law have already created pressure on journalists and NGOs, limiting their work and moving BiH further from European standards.

“These measures do not strengthen society; they weaken it. Civil society organizations are not foreign agents. Those who take great risks to improve their country are the most patriotic citizens. Your work is not a threat. On the contrary, the threat is limiting critical voices. This can lead to corruption, intolerance, and poor governance,” Kos stated, announcing that support for independent media and the fight against disinformation will be intensified within the EU.

She also recalled that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new media resilience program.

“It will support independent journalism and media literacy. Accordingly, the same is expected from future EU member states. Our priority in the enlargement process is strengthening democratic space and open societies,” Kos emphasized.

The Commissioner stressed that without real freedom of expression, no country can join the EU.

“That is why I am so eager to accelerate BiH’s accession process. We want to adopt laws as soon as possible that support independent journalists, activists, and NGOs,” she said.

In her opening address, Kos also noted that many media outlets have faced difficulties since the withdrawal of USAID. The EU and other countries are attempting to mitigate this gap through cooperation with donors and member states, but cannot fully replace the support previously provided by the United States.

In this context, she recalled that the EU has allocated €600,000 since the beginning of this year to support independent media in Europe and provide tools to combat information manipulation and interference.

“We will continue to be the strongest supporters of civil society and independent media in BiH,” Kos said, announcing EU financial support of 7 million euros for media and civil society organizations in BiH through the end of 2027.

Commissioner Marta Kos’s visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina concludes tomorrow.

The visit, aimed at highlighting the European Union’s support for BiH’s future, comes ahead of the annual enlargement package later this year, which will include the Progress Report on BiH’s EU path.