11/01/2021 (Agence Europe) – “The media must be able to work freely and independently throughout the EU” and “we call on all Member States to refrain from any attempt at pressuring them”, said European Commission spokesperson, Christian Wigand, on Monday 11 January. He was questioned about the Slovenian government’s willingness to cut financial support for the national news agency, STA, which was created in 1991; their stance is in contradiction with the position of the national parliament. Shortly after taking office in March, the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša, called STA a “ national disgrace” for giving more airtime to an interview with a musician who criticised the government, than their did to Janša’s own meeting with his Hungarian counterpart, Viktor Orbán. (MB)