OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media concludes visit to North Macedonia

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, conducted her first official visit to North Macedonia from 12 -14 September 2022.

During her visit, Ribeiro met with several governmental authorities, including the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Mr. Dimitar Kovačevski, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Bujar Osmani and Speaker of Parliament Mr. Talat Xhaferi. Ribeiro also met with the Minister of Information Society and Administration Mr. Admirim Aliti, Minister of Interior Mr. Oliver Spasovski, and the State Public Prosecutor Mr. Ljubomir Joveski.

Furthermore, the Representative had an exchange with the media regulator, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AAAVMS), the public service broadcaster, the Macedonian Radio Television (MRT), and several journalists and civil society representatives. Ribeiro also met with the EU Ambassador to North Macedonia.

Ribeiro addressed with her counterparts, among other issues, the safety conditions of journalists, with a particular focus on online safety of female journalists; the need for timely adoption of pending legislative amendments to media laws and the criminal code; the ensuring of access to public information; the editorial independence and financial sustainability of the public service broadcaster and the media regulatory authority.

Among the main concerns raised by media representatives were working conditions of journalists, namely, low wages, lack of proper contracts and social security benefits; diminishing trust in media; online harassment and abuse; and a steady increase in lawsuits aimed to silence and discourage critical reporting.

Ribeiro underlined the important role of the government in ensuring an enabling working environment for the media, both in the law and in practice, and expressed her readiness to provide necessary assistance and support to North Macedonia in line with her mandate.

Further, the Representative and her counterparts acknowledged that media freedom is key for peace and security and sustainability of democracy in the OSCE region, and agreed to further engage in this field during North Macedonia’s 2023 OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office.