Media laws adopted – still lacking protection of public interest in public procurement and electoral campaigns.

The process that lasted for more than a year and a half came to an end in an atmosphere of non-transparency and an unacceptably accelerated procedure, without organizing a public debate and with limited participation of the expert community. Although the urgency is cited as being due to alignment with the recommendations of the European Commission, the way this goal was implemented seriously undermines trust in democratic processes and institutions.

We welcome that our proposals for amendments to Articles 84 and 85 of the Law on Media (ZJIM), which relate to the presumption of innocence and reporting on criminal proceedings, have been acknowledged and included in the final text of this law. This way, further harm to freedom of expression has been avoided, allowing journalists to report professionally on issues of public interest.

However, numerous unresolved and serious problems remain. Despite the initiatives of some members of parliament who proposed the introduction of clear criteria for public procurement in the media sector—linking those criteria to the realization of public interest and adherence to professional standards—these amendments were not accepted. This represents another missed opportunity to regulate this area, which remains susceptible to abuse, non-transparent spending of public funds, and political favoritism towards certain media outlets.

Amendments to the Law on Electronic Media (ZEM) also did not resolve long-standing issues related to reporting during election campaigns. Covert political advertising, incumbent campaigns, and manipulative political marketing remain outside the regulatory framework, despite clear and long-standing recommendations from domestic and international observers.

In the area concerning public media services, deep systemic weaknesses remain present. The management board still does not have a decisive role in appointing editorial staff, the function of the Commissioner for Viewers' and Listeners' Rights remains marginalized, and the new rules on budget funding leave room for political abuse.

Particularly concerning is the level of the fee for public media services, and in this context, we remind that the majority of representatives from journalistic, media organizations, and unions within the working group for amendments to the Law on Public Media Services failed to convince the authorities that an increase in the fee from 350 to at least 500 dinars is essential for the sustainability of public media services—an amount that it was more than 15 years ago. The decision not to increase the fee represents a populist measure with serious consequences for the operation and quality of programming, primarily of the provincial public media service.

Journalistic and media organizations and unions call on the relevant institutions to recognize the importance of serious and systemic reforms that will enable free, responsible, and professional journalism. The adopted amendments represent a step in the right direction only in certain segments, but fundamental problems remain—ranging from unregulated public procurement and non-transparent ownership to unresolved weaknesses in election reporting and the functioning of public media services.

Media reform must be directed towards the public interest, the rule of law, and institutional accountability. Only through transparency and consistent adherence to the law can we achieve a media system that serves democracy, rather than particular political interests.

Media Association

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

Association of Online Media (AOM)

GS KUM Independence

Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS)

Business Association of Local and Independent Media "Local Pres"

Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation

Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS)