EU Commissioner announces €7 million support for independent media and civil society in BiH

Kos made the announcement during her keynote address at the Sarajevo conference “Critical Voices Under Pressure”, which focused on the challenges facing media and civil society in BiH.

“Critical voices are under pressure not only in BiH but across Europe and globally, posing a serious threat to democracy,” Kos said. “The environment for positive journalism is becoming increasingly difficult worldwide, and we see independent and critical voices under growing pressure everywhere.”

She highlighted that across BiH, particularly in Republika Srpska, legislative initiatives threaten to curtail civic space and undermine media freedom. Addressing journalists directly, Kos acknowledged documented threats and incidents of violence against media professionals.

The Commissioner pointed to measures such as the re-criminalisation of defamation and the foreign agents law, which have already put 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 organisations are not foreign agents. Those who take great risks to improve their country are the most patriotic citizens. Your work is not a threat; limiting critical voices is. Such restrictions lead to corruption, intolerance, and poor governance,” she said, emphasising that the EU will intensify support for independent media and efforts to combat disinformation.

Kos also recalled European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s recently announced media resilience program, designed to support independent journalism and media literacy. She stressed that future EU member states are expected to uphold similar standards, with strengthening democratic space and open societies as a central priority in the enlargement process.

“Without real freedom of expression, no country can join the EU. That is why I am committed to accelerating BiH’s accession process. We want laws in place as soon as possible to support independent journalists, activists, and NGOs,” Kos said.

She acknowledged the challenges faced by BiH media since the withdrawal of USAID, noting that while the EU and other partners are working to fill the gap, they cannot fully replace previous support. Since the start of 2025, the EU has already allocated €600,000 to bolster independent media in Europe and provide tools against information manipulation.

Kos concluded by announcing that EU funding of €7 million will support media and civil society organisations in BiH through the end of 2027, reaffirming the EU’s role as a strong advocate for civil society and press freedom.

The Commissioner’s visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, aimed at highlighting EU support for the country’s future, concludes tomorrow, ahead of the annual EU enlargement package that will include BiH’s Progress Report.