Media freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina

14.11.2018

Question for written answer E-005784-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Julie Ward (S&D) , Tanja Fajon (S&D) , Tonino Picula (S&D) , Igor Šoltes (Verts/ALE)

Civil society media organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have been very concerned about political influences on the country’s media. Free Media Help Line, a free legal aid programme provided by the Association of BH Journalists, registered 45 cases concerning the violation of journalists’ rights in 2018.

Five of these were brutal physical attacks, including one attempted murder. Among other violations the most frequent were political pressures and threats.

According to research by Mediacentar Sarajevo, owing to a fall in advertising revenues, the media in BiH are becoming increasingly dependent on public finance. Subsidies and grants are allocated to the media in a non-transparent manner, while advertising revenues from public companies are exploited for political interests.

Media ownership remains under-regulated: there has been no law limiting media concentration of ownership since 2006 and no information on possible political influences is available to the public.

What action does the Commission intend to take to combat the growing political pressure that is restricting media freedom in BiH?

What action does it plan to take towards the adoption of a law in BiH on transparency of media ownership and on the transparency of media financing from the public budget?