Emrić: The scenario of policies that have been obstructing the Public Broadcasting Service for years is the disappearance of BHRT in its 80th year!

(Patria) - Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PSBiH) Jasmin Emrić warned that BHRT is in a completely hopeless financial situation and that the public service faces closure if financial assistance from the budget of BiH institutions is not urgently provided or if the High Representative in BiH does not intervene.

Emrić reminded that the Committee on Transport and Communications of the House of Representatives of the PSBiH has continuously monitored the situation at BHRT and, through more than 30 adopted conclusions, has called on the Ministry of Communications and Transport of BiH, the Council of Ministers of BiH, and the House of Representatives of the PSBiH to provide financial assistance and long-term sustainability for the state public broadcaster.

He noted that BHRT's debt for VAT to the Indirect Taxation Authority amounts to 9.6 million KM.

- Since BHRT does not have the ability to settle this obligation, in case of account blocking by the Indirect Taxation Authority, a scenario where this public service, in the 80th year of its existence, is forced to cease operations is very possible - Emrić warned.

He believes that such an outcome is the result of years of political obstruction.

- It is obvious that this is the purpose and goal of the obstruction by politicians and their executors, who for years, in various ways, by abusing their positions and powers, have been destroying the public RTV system from within - he stated.

He specifically pointed to the debt to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which totals 21.2 million KM.

He reminded that the EBU warned in March of this year that its Executive Board had decided that if the debt is not settled by February 26, 2026, it will block BHRT's account and proceed with the sale of the movable and immovable property of this public service.

- This is a very serious warning with an extremely unfavorable scenario for BHRT if the mentioned obligations are not settled - Emrić emphasized.

He added that Elektroprivreda BiH also sent a notice in August of this year about the possible suspension of electricity supply to BHRT if the debt of 1.6 million KM is not paid.

- This would mean not only the suspension of BHRT's operations, but also of other public services and institutions that use their locations and infrastructure - he warned.

Emrić also noted at today's press conference in Sarajevo that BHRT, due to the obligation to harmonize the lowest salaries for 505 employees in the current year, spends its entire monthly revenue from the RTV fee on salary payments, which prevents regular operations without constant financial assistance.

Among other things, he also reminded of the debt to Sarajevogas and other domestic suppliers, which amounts to approximately 9.4 million KM, while the total debt of BHRT, as of October this year, exceeds 96 million KM.

- I am stating all this to once again, at the end of the current budget year, point out the magnitude and seriousness of the deteriorated long-term financial operations of BHRT - he stated.

He also emphasized that BHRT is in a hopeless situation primarily due to illegally withheld revenues from the RTV fee, noting that RTRS, due to non-compliance with legal provisions on the distribution of the RTV fee, owes BHRT the amount of 100.9 million KM.

Emrić believes that it is necessary to urgently provide short-term and temporary sustainable financing for the public RTV service from the budget of BiH institutions.

He reminded that it was announced that the Council of Ministers would provide financial assistance in the amount of up to 40 million KM by the end of this budget year, but that did not happen.

- At yesterday's session of the Council of Ministers either, such urgently needed decision and financial assistance to BHRT were not considered at all - Emrić said.

He added that it is clear that the Council of Ministers will not provide any financial assistance, as tomorrow is the last day of the current budget year.

- Those who have been destroying the public radio-television system and stifling BHRT's operations for years will obviously not change their attitude towards this state public broadcaster, but will continue to do everything to shut down the signal of Radio Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina - he assessed.

Due to such circumstances, Emrić sees intervention by the High Representative in BiH as the only realistic solution.

- It is necessary for the High Representative to use his powers and allocate one-time financial assistance to BHRT in the amount of 50 million KM, and to amend the legislative framework to ensure political independence and financial sustainability for BHRT, as well as other public services, which is also an obligation of BiH on its European path - he concluded.