Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to help ensure press freedom in the Western Balkans.

The UK is committed to media freedom in the Western Balkans. Independent media is essential to a functioning society and our Embassies in the region continue to raise violations of media freedom, including attempts to abuse journalists and spread misinformation, with the relevant authorities. We use the Media Freedom Coalition to encourage partner countries to take action where journalists and media organisations are at risk. We are also using our programming to support independent media, for instance through the ongoing 'Media 4 All' project and to counter disinformation in the Western Balkans.