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This report summarises the findings of a three-day mission to Croatia in June 2016 led by the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) and including representatives from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Austrian section of Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Delegates held over two dozen meetings with journalists, editors, government officials – including Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović – and representatives from journalist associations and civil society groups to evaluate issues related to media freedom and media independence in the European Union’s newest member state.
Key topics evaluated by the report include:
– Political interference at the Croatian public broadcaster
– Rising atmosphere of public intimidation of critical media
– Continued impunity for physical attacks against journalists
– The use of Croatia’s criminal defamation and insult laws to silence investigative journalism
– Media pluralism, including minority and non-profit media