EU Delegation and Office of the Special Representative: Law on Public Order and Peace is Unclear

After the adoption of the Law on Public Order and Peace in the RSNA, the EU Delegation and the Office of the EU Special Representative also issued a reaction, reports the Patria agency.

- The Delegation of the European Union and the Office of the Special Representative of the European Union emphasizes that the fundamental rights of all citizens must be unconditionally respected, as one of the key prerequisites for a healthy democracy, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including of course freedom of expression. This is especially true in a country striving to meet the political criteria for membership in the European Union. The European Union fully supports freedom of expression, fundamental freedoms protected by international law, including the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which is an integral part of a functional pluralistic democracy. Every regulation must be necessary, clearly defined, and prescribed by appropriate legislation. We are of the view that the definitions contained in the provisions of the RS Law on Public Order and Peace remain unclear and leave too much room for arbitrary implementation. Bearing this in mind, we call on the competent authorities to ensure clarity and proportionality in legislation and its implementation.

We will carefully monitor developments regarding the Law on Public Order and Peace in the RS. Freedom of expression and media freedom are issues that are regularly monitored within the framework of the Copenhagen political criteria and assessed in the annual progress report published by the European Commission - the statement reads.