12. 02. 2013

MEDIA NOT IN 2014 BUDGET

Belgrade, February 12, 2013 (B92, Danas) - The Media Coalition said it was necessary to determin the prohibition of the direct financing of media from the state budget as of January 1, 2014, ANEM President Sasa Mirkovic told the daily Danas.

A public discussion on the Draft Law on Public Information and Media should start by the end of February ad forwarded for adoption to the Parliament no later than March 31, said Mirkovic, who is also a member of the working group for drafting this Law.

According to him, some additional changes to the draft were made, which is now waiting for the suggestions from the Association of Media (ASMEDI) and Sandra Basic Hrvatin, an expert engaged by the European Commission.

The Media Coalition, composed of NUNS, UNS, NDNV, ANEM and Local Press, have submitted their proposals and remarks on the proposed amendments to the Public Information Law. The media associations believe that the draft law was "a good starting position, but it contained certain contradictory solutions that could limit instead of improving media pluralism and freedom of expression.