Media law changes “will take time”

Deputy Culture Minister Dragan Janjic says that changes to media laws will not be rushed. Janjic said that the process of harmonizing media laws with EU standards would be carefully planned. Media law changes “will take time” He said that the short-term goals on that road included adopting amendments to the Law on Broadcasting and the Law on Prohibited Media Concentration, and that in the next two years, laws on the media and electronic communication would also be up for adoption. The minister said that no official decision had yet been taken to form a working group for amending media laws because Culture Minister Nebojsa Bradic had not yet signed the relevant ruling, but that the identity of the members of the group were known, and that they included four university professors, one lawyer and the deputy culture and telecommunications ministers. Janjic said that two officials from the ruling coalition had also been due to enter the group, but had changed their minds. He dismissed claims by Radio Television Serbia Director Aleksandar Tijanic that the working group was “private” and “illegal”. Janjic said that RTS, the State Broadcasting Agency (RRA) and other media groups wanted to have their officials in the group, but that this had not been possible because the group’s work was not of a plenary character. He said that everyone would have a chance to give their suggestions once the working group had formulated the draft amendments, prior to a public debate. “Everything has been carefully planned, and we resisted pressure from political groups to do certain things faster than necessary,” the minister said, adding that he and the culture minister would be meeting with RTS and RRA officials as part of the restructuring process.

Media law changes “will take time”

He said that the short-term goals on that road included adopting amendments to the Law on Broadcasting and the Law on Prohibited Media Concentration, and that in the next two years, laws on the media and electronic communication would also be up for adoption.

The minister said that no official decision had yet been taken to form a working group for amending media laws because Culture Minister Nebojša Bradić had not yet signed the relevant ruling, but that the identity of the members of the group were known, and that they included four university professors, one lawyer and the deputy culture and telecommunications ministers.

Janjić said that two officials from the ruling coalition had also been due to enter the group, but had changed their minds.

He dismissed claims by Radio Television Serbia Director Aleksandar Tijanić that the working group was “private” and “illegal”.

Janjić said that RTS, the State Broadcasting Agency (RRA) and other media groups wanted to have their officials in the group, but that this had not been possible because the group’s work was not of a plenary character.

He said that everyone would have a chance to give their suggestions once the working group had formulated the draft amendments, prior to a public debate.

“Everything has been carefully planned, and we resisted pressure from political groups to do certain things faster than necessary,” the minister said, adding that he and the culture minister would be meeting with RTS and RRA officials as part of the restructuring process.