Euraktiv research reveals that Juronjuz, although he still receives millions of euros from funds EU, increasingly relies on politically connected investors, lobbyists and partnerships with actors from illiberal states.
Financial reports and testimonies of 14 current and former employees indicate a financially burdened media a house that deepens ties with governments under authoritarian leaders - from Serbia to Azerbaijan.
Absence of unpleasant questions for Vučić
The issue of editorial independence of Juron News came into the spotlight during the summit on EU enlargement organized by this company, at which the President of Serbia was interviewed. Aleksandar Vučić. Brussels has long been expressing concern about the democratic backsliding in Serbia and Vučić's ties to Moscow, but these questions were not raised during the interview, writes Euraktiv.
The moderator started the conversation by asking whether Vučić is still a "pious European", while there were no questions about the mass protests in Serbia, insulting members of the European Parliament or tensions with the European center.
Instead, Vučić criticized the EU's bureaucratic language and publicly named Mario David, the father of Euronews owner Pedro Vargas David, as a friend.
Mario, a longtime supporter of Serbia in the EU, has known Vučić for years through the European People's Party (EPP), Vučić's spokesman said. Pedro Vargas David, who was sitting in the first row, laughed at this.
Juronujz in Serbia and the connection with the state
Juronjuz's ties with Serbia were further strengthened in 2021 with the establishment of a Belgrade franchise in partnership with Telekom Serbia, a majority state-owned company. The project was presented as a fusion of Western editorial standards and local journalism, but critics claim that promise has not been fulfilled.
According to former employees, the turning point occurred in mid-2023, when she was a television host Minja Miletic appointed regional director. "We were told to remember who pays us," said one former producer.
Tensions escalated in April 2025 during massive anti-government protests in Serbia. Almost 80 employees of Juronuz in Serbia signed an open letter in which they condemned the management's support for the state television RTS, accused of bias towards the authorities. Soon after, several signatories were fired, which media freedom monitoring organizations characterized as retaliation, according to Euraktiv.
Miletić rejected accusations of political influence of Telekom Serbia, stating that the dismissals were part of a broader restructuring. Telekom Srbija announced that it does not interfere in the internal operations of Juronjuz Srbija and that it considers this media house to be editorially independent.
A case in the midst of an unfavorable situation in Serbia
The case comes at a time when media freedom and the rule of law are key points in Serbia's negotiations with the EU, according to Euraktiv. During her recent visit to Belgrade, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that progress in these areas is essential. Serbia is currently in 96th place in the World Media Freedom Index, while ten years ago it was in 59th position.
A spokesman for President Vučić dismissed suggestions of interference, saying the president is not involved in "the editorial models of foreign media" and that the government continues to work with EU partners to improve conditions.
Within the Belgrade editorial office of Juronjuz, some journalists previously assumed that the head office of that media company would react if political pressures intensified.
"We expected there was someone we could turn to," said one seasoned journalist. "If that didn't work, they would pull the license." Such an intervention, however, did not occur.
"The EU cannot stand behind what is happening with Juronujz Serbia," said Irina Milutinović from the Institute for European Studies. "This is a brand collapse - and a test for Brussels."
Euraktiv contacted the management of Euronews on several occasions regarding the allegations in this text, but by the time of publication, the answers had not arrived.
Source: Euractiv
