Commissioner Marta Kos delivered a significant address on September 23, 2025, at the Critical Voices under Pressure Conference in Sarajevo, emphasizing the importance of a free press and an open civil society in safeguarding democracy, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Highlighting threats to independent media and civil society, Commissioner Kos framed her position on the urgent necessity to bolster these sectors as a cornerstone of the EU enlargement process.
Call for Strengthened Democratic Spaces Kos underscored recent legislative efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially in Republika Srpska, that risk shrinking civic space and curtailing media freedom, including the recriminalisation of defamation and the implementation of a "foreign agents" law targeting NGOs. She described these measures as weakening society and contrary to European standards. Her speech carried a clear message that limiting critical voices undermines governance and social trust, advocating instead for protective legislation and policies enabling journalists and NGOs to operate without fear.
Concrete Funding Pledges and Support Initiatives The Commissioner announced the augmentation of EU financial backing, with €7 million allocated over two years to support independent media and civil society in Bosnia and Herzegovina, complemented by a new Media Resilience Programme targeting independent journalism and media literacy throughout candidate countries. Additionally, the EU has invested €660,000 since early 2025 in these efforts. These commitments propose tangible support structures and resources to enhance media sustainability amidst declining international donor involvement.
Policy Orientation and Political Implications Commissioner Kos clearly articulated a policy stance favoring increased EU engagement and integration in supporting media freedom and civil society, marking a shift toward more assertive promotion of democratic standards as accession prerequisites. This approach prioritizes the strengthening of democratic spaces over national regulatory sovereignty, particularly in candidate countries.
Stakeholders Impacted For independent journalists and civil society organizations, this policy direction promises increased financial stability and institutional support, potentially reducing risks associated with intimidation and legal constraints. For EU taxpayers and member states, there will be an increase in budgetary allocations for these programs, indicating a shift toward public funding of democratic resilience initiatives. National authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina might experience pressure to repeal restrictive legislation, balancing sovereignty concerns with EU accession imperatives. The media sector may face demands to uphold journalistic standards and collaboration with EU-level programs, possibly fostering greater regulatory oversight.
Commissioner Kos’s speech lays out a blueprint for the EU’s future enlargement policy, emphasizing that freedom of expression and media independence are not just supportive add-ons but essential pillars for democratic accession, underscoring a political cleavage between reinforcing European democratic standards and respecting national legislative autonomy within candidate states.
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