05. 04. 2013

INFORMATION LAW PRESENTED

Belgrade, April 5, 2013 - EU expert for media Sandra Basic Hrvatin said that the Draft Law on Public Information in Serbia was not intended against the media owned by the state.

The aim of this law is to protect the public interest and ensure transparent spending of funds, Hrvatin explained at the public hearing of the Draft Law on Public Information and Media, organized by the Serbian Parliament's Culture and Information Committee.

Hrvatin also said that last year, 20 million Euros of taxpayers' money had been spent on media, however under vague criteria.

"There are around 1.200 media in Serbia, out of which slightly under 100 owned by the state. The Draft Law on Public Information is not against these media, the market conditions must simply be the same for everyone", said Hrvatin, emphasizing that this way both protection of public interest and clear spending of taxpayers' money was provided.

Zoran Sekulic, Director of the news agency FoNet and the representative of the Media Community composed of the Media Coalition (ANEM, NUNS, UNS, NDNV and Local Press) and Association of Media, said that the Media Community insisted on termination of financing of media from the state budget funds and transition to project financing as of January 1, 2014.