22. 09. 2011

European Commission criticizes the Media Strategy

Belgrade, September 22, 2011. (B92) - European Commission criticized the Proposal of the Serbian Media Strategy, which, among other things, stipulated the establishment of six new regional public service broadcasters.

The Commission is seriously concerned that regional public service broadcasting would not be financially sustainable due to intense competition and overstrained market.

The Brussels' critics were submitted to the Serbian Government. In this document, the Commission said that editorial and financial independence had to be ensured when it comes to the media outlets owned by the state or, otherwise, they have to be privatized.

According to the Commission's assessment, the state funds have to be limited to transparent project financing based on transparent criteria. The Strategy's provisions that, for example, stipulate the state support to news agency through buying services for the state's purposes, are not sufficiently clear and that they leave a space for an inappropriate influence.  

European Commission also points out that the way of realization of possibly establishment of regional public service broadcasters has to be developed in more details, including organizational aspects, more precise rules related to state aid, which has to ensure sustainability and to exclude the possibility of influences on media content.

Brussels also assesses that it is necessary to stipulate clear rules of state advertizing, especially having in mind that sources of financing of the Serbian media are monopolized, because of which enforcement of rules on protection of competition is necessary in order to prevent concentration of marketing budgets and their distribution in a way that could result in abuse of dominant position and influence on professional and financial integrity.

At the same time, European Commission indicates that there are alternative ways to fulfill the need for regional programs of the public interest in line with appropriate recommendations of the Council of Europe.  

What is also problematic, according to the Commission's assessment is a possibility of financing the media founded by national minorities' councils from the state budget, due to political nature of national councils and possible influences on editorial policy of such media outlets. The Commission points out the alternative models of financing the minority media.

The Commission insists on additional refinement of the Strategy in the part related to mechanisms of privatization of Tanjug. It also deems that existence of a state media outlet for Kosovo is not necessary.

In the end, the Commission indicates two aspects related to digitalization that is not mentioned in the Proposal. Firstly, the Proposal did not provide an answer to the question by whom the digitalization would be financed. Secondly, the state failed to commit to carrying out the digitalization process in consultation with all parties that participate in the process.  

The Proposal of the Media Strategy was completed on September 8. This document was prepared by the working group founded in accordance with the decision of the prime Minister.

This document has not been publicly presented. Journalists' and media associations NUNS, UNS, NDNV, ANEM, Local press and Association of Media criticized some of its solutions while they stated that solutions related to regional public service broadcasting are unacceptable and unsustainable.