German media company Waz (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung), one of the owners of Romania Libera newspaper, intends to withdraw from the Romanian and Serbian markets by the end of this year, according to handelsblatt.com. The group's strategy involves withdrawal from the entire Balkan area, according to Bodo Hombach, the group's CEO, quoted by the German newspaper. (The entire article here – in German )

However, the group has denied allegations about its withdrawal from Serbia in the past. In a press release mid-June, the group said “allegations that the Waz Media Group’s decision to pull out of Serbia had been triggered by economic difficulties in Germany are completely unfounded. Claims that Waz Media Group had decided to withdraw from others countries as well amount to intentional desinformation and falsification,” wrote the statement. “Allegations that the WAZ Media Group was planning for all-out retreat from Southern Europe are an attempt to divert attention from what is a purely Serbian problem,” the company said at the time.

Waz owns shares in Romania Libera daily newspaper, through a partnership Nova Group. The two companies together hold with Medien Holding. Medien Holding owns the United Print printing house, Hiparions Magazines, Grupul Roman de Presa and CMP branding and communication agency.

The WAZ Media Group, based in Essen, is one of the largest European media groups. 30 daily and 19 weekly newspapers, 189 special-interest and trade magazines, 100 advertising papers and 400 customer magazines belong to the group. In Germany, the group publishes 10 daily newspapers in North Rhine Westphalia, Thuringia and Lower Saxony.