"No progress in freedom of media in region"

BELGRADE OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic said on Thursday in Belgrade there was "no progress in the region when it comes to media freedom". However, she added that the problem does not lie in the laws, but rather in the fact they are not being implemented. "No progress in freedom of media in region" She pointed out that neither the government nor businessmen should interfere in the independent editorial policies of the media. Opening a regional conference on media freedom in Belgrade, Mijatovic pointed out that "we need to continue exerting pressure on governments" in order for laws to be implemented and for progress to be made. "We have failed, but our fight continues. We got off on the right foot, by drafting laws that are better than some laws in the EU and the international community, but this is not enough," she said. Mijatovic also stressed that the problems are pretty much the same in all countries of Southeastern Europe, and that they are related to the independence of regulatory bodies, financial independence of the public service and attacks on investigative journalism. She especially pointed to challenges regarding the public service and independent editorial policy in which neither the state nor businessmen should interfere. Mijatovic also pointed to the issues of monopoly over media with political and business circles and protecting media pluralism in the region. While in Belgrade, the OSCE official held a number of meetings, including with PM Ivica Dacic, Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Stefanovic and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vucic. The organization issued a statement after the meetings to quote Mijatovic as saying that "independent journalism and free reporting do exist in Serbia, but looking at the cases of threats and violence against journalists, this still comes at a price." In her meetings Mijatovic underscored the need to address the challenges facing media freedom in Serbia: “Without a robust legal and regulatory framework, institutionally protected public and private media and a politically and financially independent broadcast regulator and public service broadcaster, it will not be possible to meet the challenges of digitalization and harmonization with international standards, let alone create a free and vibrant media environment.” “There is also an urgent need for the state to completely withdraw from the media market and to foster an environment conducive to free media and safety of journalists,” she added. “The case of journalist Laszlo Sass showed that there is a need to fully decriminalize defamation as the threat of criminal sanctions for speech offenses has the potential to stifle public debate.” She also called upon journalists and media owners to resist political and economic pressure and to serve the public and society at large. Mijatovic welcomed the readiness of the authorities to co-operate with her office, as well as to improve media legislation in a open and inclusive manner, support public service broadcaster RTS, ensure the independence of broadcast regulator RBA and to foster transparency of media ownership. "State ownership should be legally abolished" Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said on Thursday that it is necessary to eliminate state ownership of the media through legal solutions, and reanalyze media strategies. At the OSCE conference on media freedom in Southeast Europe, which is being held in Belgrade on Thursday and Friday, Degert said that the Serbian government adopted the Media Strategy a year ago, but that not much of it has been implemented. He added that this understandable as the country had a lengthy election campaign. Serbia has pledged to eliminate state ownership from the media, and the process has been launched, but it is unclear how it will continue, Degert said. He noted that Serbia should create a media space in which ownership would be transparent. Degert said that the political pressure on the media in Serbia is not so direct any more, but that they are now facing economic pressure coming from advertising and purchase of advertising space. Media pluralism has been established, but that does not mean that censorship in Serbia does not exist, he added. The European Commission has identified a few challenges in view of Serbia's media sphere relating to the influence on the media through the legal system, lack of competition, and insufficient protection of journalists. B92 Tanjug

"No progress in freedom of media in region"

She pointed out that neither the government nor businessmen should interfere in the independent editorial policies of the media.

Opening a regional conference on media freedom in Belgrade, Mijatović pointed out that "we need to continue exerting pressure on governments" in order for laws to be implemented and for progress to be made.

"We have failed, but our fight continues. We got off on the right foot, by drafting laws that are better than some laws in the EU and the international community, but this is not enough," she said.

Mijatović also stressed that the problems are pretty much the same in all countries of Southeastern Europe, and that they are related to the independence of regulatory bodies, financial independence of the public service and attacks on investigative journalism.

She especially pointed to challenges regarding the public service and independent editorial policy in which neither the state nor businessmen should interfere.

Mijatović also pointed to the issues of monopoly over media with political and business circles and protecting media pluralism in the region.

While in Belgrade, the OSCE official held a number of meetings, including with PM Ivica Dačić, Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović and First Deputy PM Aleksandar Vučić.

The organization issued a statement after the meetings to quote Mijatović as saying that "independent journalism and free reporting do exist in Serbia, but looking at the cases of threats and violence against journalists, this still comes at a price."

In her meetings Mijatović underscored the need to address the challenges facing media freedom in Serbia:

“Without a robust legal and regulatory framework, institutionally protected public and private media and a politically and financially independent broadcast regulator and public service broadcaster, it will not be possible to meet the challenges of digitalization and harmonization with international standards, let alone create a free and vibrant media environment.”

“There is also an urgent need for the state to completely withdraw from the media market and to foster an environment conducive to free media and safety of journalists,” she added. “The case of journalist Laszlo Sass showed that there is a need to fully decriminalize defamation as the threat of criminal sanctions for speech offenses has the potential to stifle public debate.”

She also called upon journalists and media owners to resist political and economic pressure and to serve the public and society at large.

Mijatović welcomed the readiness of the authorities to co-operate with her office, as well as to improve media legislation in a open and inclusive manner, support public service broadcaster RTS, ensure the independence of broadcast regulator RBA and to foster transparency of media ownership.

"State ownership should be legally abolished"

Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said on Thursday that it is necessary to eliminate state ownership of the media through legal solutions, and reanalyze media strategies.

At the OSCE conference on media freedom in Southeast Europe, which is being held in Belgrade on Thursday and Friday, Degert said that the Serbian government adopted the Media Strategy a year ago, but that not much of it has been implemented.

He added that this understandable as the country had a lengthy election campaign.

Serbia has pledged to eliminate state ownership from the media, and the process has been launched, but it is unclear how it will continue, Degert said.

He noted that Serbia should create a media space in which ownership would be transparent.

Degert said that the political pressure on the media in Serbia is not so direct any more, but that they are now facing economic pressure coming from advertising and purchase of advertising space.

Media pluralism has been established, but that does not mean that censorship in Serbia does not exist, he added.

The European Commission has identified a few challenges in view of Serbia's media sphere relating to the influence on the media through the legal system, lack of competition, and insufficient protection of journalists.