European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Writes to European Commission: Prevent the Collapse of BHRT

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the world's largest association of public media services, today issued a strong and urgent call to the European Commission to prevent the collapse of Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT).

In a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Vice-President Marta Kos, the EBU demands a decisive response and pressure on the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to halt the escalation of the BHRT crisis.

The signatories, which include numerous European journalist associations, institutions, and public media services from EBU member states, express "deepest concern over the rapid deterioration of the situation at BHRT," warning that "the only public media service at the state level is now on the brink of closure."

It is noted that "BHRT's financial crisis has escalated into an existential threat" and that the service's survival has been undermined for years by "the long-standing violation of the state broadcasting law by RTRS," which has "deprived BHRT of over 46 million euros, pushing it to the brink of insolvency."

It is emphasized that BHRT is "only a few days away from ceasing operations" and that the situation has reached a point where "only urgent and coordinated domestic and international action can prevent irreparable damage."

In addition to the leaders of the European Commission, the letter was also sent to representatives of domestic authorities and international organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, members of Parliament, the Council of Ministers of BiH and relevant ministries, the OHR, and the OSCE mission in BiH.

"Dear Madam President,

We, the undersigned organizations, express our deepest concern over the rapid deterioration of the situation at Radio and Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT). The only public media service at the state level is now on the brink of closure, with dire consequences not only for media freedom but also for the stability and security of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.

Despite weeks of warnings and peaceful protests by BHRT employees, no political representative has appeared, responded, or engaged with the protests, even while both houses of Parliament were sitting in the same building. The complete absence of an institutional response demonstrates the urgent need for international attention and action.

BHRT's financial crisis has now escalated into an existential threat. The broadcaster's survival has been undermined for years by the long-standing violation of the state broadcasting law by RTRS, which has since 2017 withheld the legally prescribed portion of the RTV fee from BHRT. This illegal practice has deprived BHRT of over 46 million euros, pushing it to the brink of insolvency. This has resulted in unpaid pension contributions for several years, preventing many employees from retiring. BHRT is now unable to cover even basic operational costs, including electricity and essential services. Employees continue to maintain broadcasting under unbearable conditions.

Media freedom and pluralism – and alignment with the European Media Freedom Act – are key components of the EU accession process. The European Commission must act immediately to preserve what remains of the dialogue on protecting Bosnia and Herzegovina's public broadcaster and upholding these fundamental principles.

We call on the European Commission and the international community to exert strong and urgent pressure on relevant national institutions to resolve this crisis. The disappearance of BHRT would not only mean the collapse of a public institution; it would:

• Eliminate the only independent source of information at the state level in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Create a vacuum that would be filled by media under the influence of foreign, particularly Russian, interests, amplifying disinformation and polarization.
• Destabilize an already fragile media landscape and undermine Bosnia and Herzegovina's EU accession process.
• Set a dangerous precedent for public services across the Western Balkans.

If BHRT shuts down, mainstream television journalism in the public interest in Bosnia and Herzegovina could truly disappear. With the closure of Al Jazeera Balkans and the downsizing of N1, the collapse of BHRT would leave the country without any significant independent television news broadcaster. This would be devastating in a society where citizens consistently express greater trust in the media than in any other institution, including religious authorities, as confirmed by multiple public opinion surveys conducted by the Association of BH Journalists and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES).

To end this crisis, the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Council of Ministers, and all relevant national authorities must:

1. Ensure urgent financial support to keep BHRT operational and prevent its closure.
2. Guarantee the lawful and regular distribution of the RTV fee so that BHRT receives the funds to which it is legally entitled.
3. Adopt a new, sustainable funding model that ensures the long-term political and financial independence of BHRT.
4. Address the issue of unpaid pension insurance contributions and ensure decent working conditions for BHRT employees.
5. Halt the further degradation of the journalism profession and adopt a fair and transparent job classification system.

BHRT is now only a few days away from ceasing operations. BHRT journalists, the media association of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and international organizations have repeatedly warned about this. The situation has reached a point where only urgent and coordinated domestic and international action can prevent irreparable damage. We call on the European Commission and the international community to immediately intervene with state institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is not just a matter of media freedom: the potential closure of BHRT represents a security threat with regional implications and must be treated as such.

A public media service is a fundamental pillar of democracy and a guardian of peace. Its collapse would have consequences far beyond Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Signatories:
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO)
PEN International
PEN Bosnia - Herzegovina
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
International Press Institute (IPI)
Article 19
Index of Censorship (Index)
Reporters without Borders (RsF)
Armenian Public Television (AMPTV)
Radio and Television of Crna Gora (RTCG)
Czech Television (CT)
Rene Zavoral – Director General of Czech Radio
Czech Radio (CR)
Telewizija Polska (TVP)
Bulgarian National Radio (BNR)
Bulgarian National Television (BNT)
Latvian Public Service Media (LSM)
Radio and Television of Slovenia (RTVSLO)
Ukrainian Public Service Media (Suspilne)
Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK)
Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT)
Romanian Radio (RoR)
Albanian Public Service Media (RTSH)
Estonian Public Service Media (ERR)
Macedonian Radio and Television (MKRTV)