The Assembly adopted a set of media laws despite objections from media associations.
The members of the National Assembly of Serbia have adopted a set of media laws, which includes the Law on Electronic Media, the Law on Public Media Services, and the Law on Public Information and Media.
For the amendments to the Law on Electronic Media, 134 out of 169 present deputies voted, for the amendments to the Law on Public Media Services, 129 out of 167 deputies voted, and for the amendments to the Law on Public Information and Media, 134 deputies out of 167 present deputies voted, reports RTS.
Previously, the deputies rejected all proposed amendments.
Let us remind you, NUNS, ANEM, and Lokal Pres expressed deep concern over the manner in which the process of amending three key media laws – the Law on Public Information and Media (ZJIM), the Law on Electronic Media (ZEM), and the Law on Public Media Services (ZJMS) – was conducted.
"The process, which has lasted more than a year and a half, has reached its final phase through an unacceptable accelerated procedure, short deadlines, and a lack of transparency, all under the pretext of alignment with the recommendations of the European Commission. The manner in which this process was conducted, as well as the amendments that were adopted, contribute to the further erosion of media freedoms and seriously undermine the essence of democratic procedures," states a statement released by media and journalism associations upon the entry of the laws into parliamentary procedure.
