EU against delays in Media Strategy, digitalization

NOVI PAZAR The EU has supported the Media Strategy, which was adopted nearly two years ago, but its implementation can no longer be postponed, says Vincent Degert. The head of the EU Delegation to Serbia addressed the issue in an interview for FoNet on Sunday. EU against delays in Media Strategy, digitalization Degert pointed to the need to pass legislation on public information and electronic media. According to him, the principles are very clear - the transparency of project-based media financing, and the transparency of media ownership. "This must be applied immediately and cannot be postponed. There is a need to do it quickly," said the EU official. He added that the EU has allocated EUR 1.2 million to assist in the implementation of the Media Strategy, but that the money can be "mobilized" only if there is an appropriate legal framework. Asked about the delay in the digitalization process in Serbia, Degert said that the EU invested a total of EUR 10.5 million in this - eight million in equipment, setting aside a further 2.5 million in technical assistance. "I was hoping that digitization would begin by April 2012, which means that we are already late with the original plan," Degert noted. According to him, it is necessary to test the equipment to ensure that digitization can be extended to the whole country, when Serbia is ready for it. "We were hoping for a technical solution when TV Avala stopped broadcasting, since we could use the frequency for testing," Degertt was quoted as saying. "I see that the option is probably no longer possible," he noted, but at the same time expressed his hope that the testing will be done, - "because the June 2015 is the deadline to implement the digitization in all of Europe." "Since digitization brings large revenues, Serbia will, if it is not carried out in time, lose the financial benefits," concluded Degert. (Beta, file) FoNet

EU against delays in Media Strategy, digitalization

Degert pointed to the need to pass legislation on public information and electronic media.

According to him, the principles are very clear - the transparency of project-based media financing, and the transparency of media ownership.

"This must be applied immediately and cannot be postponed. There is a need to do it quickly," said the EU official.

He added that the EU has allocated EUR 1.2 million to assist in the implementation of the Media Strategy, but that the money can be "mobilized" only if there is an appropriate legal framework.

Asked about the delay in the digitalization process in Serbia, Degert said that the EU invested a total of EUR 10.5 million in this - eight million in equipment, setting aside a further 2.5 million in technical assistance.

"I was hoping that digitization would begin by April 2012, which means that we are already late with the original plan," Degert noted.

According to him, it is necessary to test the equipment to ensure that digitization can be extended to the whole country, when Serbia is ready for it.

"We were hoping for a technical solution when TV Avala stopped broadcasting, since we could use the frequency for testing," Degertt was quoted as saying.

"I see that the option is probably no longer possible," he noted, but at the same time expressed his hope that the testing will be done, - "because the June 2015 is the deadline to implement the digitization in all of Europe."

"Since digitization brings large revenues, Serbia will, if it is not carried out in time, lose the financial benefits," concluded Degert.