19. 03. 2013

DEGERT: STATE WITHDRAWAL FROM MEDIA

Belgrade, March 19, 2013 (FoNet) - Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert said today that the withdrawing of the state from ownership in media was the objective that needed to be energetically and clearly achieved.

In the public discussion on amending the media legislation in Serbia, Degert said that the project financing of media should be done under transparent conditions.

"We believe that the Serbial legislation must be aligned with the EU laws", said Degert, calling the state to take necessary steps in ensuring the method of project financing.

Speaking about the establishment of regional public service broadcasters, Degert noted that the right question would be whether there should be any more fees and taxes put on taxpayers in the time of crisis and said that the collection rate of TV subscription fees for public services RTS and RTV were down to around 30 percent.

According to him, a new method must be brought to ensure the unhindered work of RTV and RTS, as well a transparent process of establishing public service broadcasting, to prevent stations from voluntarily proclaiming themselves as regional public service broadcasters.

Degert noted that the Draft Law provided for some good solutions, however, it contained too many details regulating public procurement.

He however said that the law omitted clear provisions on the councils of national minorities and their media, where room for possible influence of the councils to their editorial policy and independence could be created.