OSCE Media Freedom Representative presents legal review of amendments to Law on Audio and Audio-visual Media Services in North Macedonia
VIENNA, 16 May 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, shared a legal review with the Minister of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia, Damjan Mancevski, on the latest amendments to the Law on Audio and Audio-visual Media Services.
The Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media had commissioned Katrin Nyman Metcalf, a renowned international expert in communications law, to conduct the analysis.
“I welcome the adoption of the amended law. I very much appreciate the co-operation we established with the Government of North Macedonia during the different stages of its development. The law is now in general accordance with European and international standards on audio-visual media. It contains numerous positive elements, such as provisions to strengthen the diversity of representation in various media regulatory bodies, and to ensure that the interests of different ethnic groups are taken into consideration,” Désir said.
“The analysis offers recommendations related to several provisions that still need to be addressed. These include issues related to the banning of public advertising or public funding for advertising and the difficulty in implementing the system by which broadcasters can receive a reduced licence fee if they broadcast Macedonian content.”
The Representative emphasized the expert’s suggestion that each concern can be addressed in the form of new legal amendments, or through sub-legal acts where appropriate.
“I trust that the legal review and the recommendations provided therein will be taken into account, which would ensure that the legislation complies with OSCE media freedom commitments and international standards,” Désir concluded.
The Law was adopted by the parliament on 28 December 2018 and entered into force on 8 January 2019.
The full text of the legal review is available here.