23. 01. 2006

Overview of Media Legislation in South Eastern Europe

BELGRADE, January 23, 2006 - The most recently compiled report on Media Legislation in SEE, carried out by the Legal Department of the Association and supported by the IREX Media Development Division, Regional Projects. This overview, covering the reporting period between November 2003 and October 2005, refers to the state of media legislation in South Eastern Europe, namely Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia, and is made on the basis of Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Media Task Force’s summary reports which are prepared under the auspices of the Media Task Force by the Media Plan Institute in Sarajevo.

The overview is focused on three categories of media legislation:

Broadcasting legislation and regulations, including the licensing procedures and division of frequencies to broadcasters, Statute, mandate and composition of regulatory bodies, Management of the public broadcaster and its independence, balance between private and public broadcasters and funding issues such as changes in advertising limits, remit of the public broadcaster or audience reach. Defamation and libel Law, including the penal and civil code changes relating to defamation, level of fines, burden of proof and special protection of public figures. Free Access to Information Act, including the progress or delays in adoption and implementation of Access to Information laws. The realisation of the project was also assisted by the ANEM Secretariat.

See the whole text:

LegalMonitoringReport.pdf