Serbia: Public debate on advertising law raises major concerns
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Coalition for Media Freedom in condemning this legislative process for its lack of transparency and calls for an extension of the deadline and a restructuring of the law, including the creation of a regulatory framework in the areas of public information and advertising by public authorities and political advertising.
A working group on amendments to the Advertising Law was set up without the participation of media associations. As the Coalition for Media Freedom pointed out, the government promised to ensure that cooperation between ministerial working groups and representatives of media associations, the Association of Media and Local Press, would be respected during the drafting of the law. A year and six months after the formation of the working group and the release of the Law on Advertising into public discussion, this promise has not been kept.
“The process itself was conducted informally, therefore, without minutes from all sessions, without an agreed agenda – just as it does not befit serious institutions and serious tasks!,” declared the Coalition for Media Freedom.
“The situation is repeated again and again – the authorities include the representatives of the journalists and media associations only when it suits them and under the pressure of the international community,” said Tamara Filipović, project manager of the Association of Independent Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) to the EFJ.
“Media regulation is not part of the mandate of the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade, and the ministry that does have that mandate, the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, has not been involved at any point. This law must include the input of media organisations, starting with the creation of a regulatory framework, to ensure transparency,” stated EFJ President Maja Sever.
