New legislation sets stage for major changes in Serbian media

The debate on the three bills - on public information and the media, on electronic media and on public service broadcasters - opened in Serbian parliament on Wednesday (July 30th).

The proposed legislation would guarantee media freedom in the country, in line with European standards, a report by Belgrade-based B92 quoted Serbian Minister of Culture and Information Ivan Tasovac as telling lawmakers as he presented the bills. "The goals are to create the conditions for professional media, establishing a framework that guarantees free flow of ideas and opinions, without interference by the government that would be inhibiting, clearly defined public interest, funding, protection of the rights of editors and journalists and encouraging journalists' association, protection of minors, and prohibition of hate speech," the minister explained.

The enactment of the bill on public information and the media, which Tasovac described as an umbrella law, would pave the way for the state's exit from the media sector with the privatization of 81 outlets, which should be completed July 1st, 2015. The capital of those, which have not been sold by that time will be transferred to those companies' employees, free-of-charge, according to Beta .

The bill on electronic media sets mid-June 2015 as the deadline for completing the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in Serbia, defining also the state's authority over providers of audio-visual media services.

The bill on public service broadcasters regulates the activities of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) and the Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV). It also provides for the introduction of a compulsory monthly fee of up to RSD500 dinars (about 4 euros) that citizens in Serbia will start paying as of January 2016 to help fund the two broadcasters.

While seeing the proposed legislation generally in line with the basic goals of the country's media strategy, the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Center for Advanced Legal Studies (CUPS) have proposed amendments, hoping lawmakers will adopt them to "further improve the quality of media laws". Jelka Jovanovic of NUNS voiced concern in comments for BIRN that the planned media privatization could lead to the closure of numerous outlets, which would leave many journalists without a job.

The European Commission is expected to finalize soon its screening report for Chapter 10 (Information Society and Media) in Serbia's accession talks. B92 quoted the head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Michael Davenport, as having said that it would be good if the media laws were adopted "as soon as possible".