European Broadcasting Union: Extending the deadline for BHRT's debt repayment would prolong uncertainty and instability of the public broadcaster

(Patria) - The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has called on the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to urgently find a solution to ensure the financing of the public broadcaster BHRT and protect its future.

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BHRT on the verge of complete collapse: RTRs owes 104 million KM, programming was broadcast even during the war, and is shutting down in peacetime!

(Patria) - After BHRT interrupted its regular programming today, broadcasting only news according to the daily schedule at 12 o'clock, an extraordinary press conference was held. BHRT states that this is just a warning of what the situation could become.

This was stated in response to an inquiry from Radio Free Europe (RSE) regarding whether the EBU would consider extending the deadline after February 28 for the repayment of the remaining debt that the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina owes to the EBU. The debt amounts to 11.28 million euros (approximately 22 million KM).

"Simply extending the deadlines would not solve the fundamental problems that have been ongoing for more than 10 years, but would prolong the uncertainty and instability that the broadcaster is already facing," the response to RSE stated.

BHRT owes money for electricity, gas, salaries and contributions to employees, as well as to the EBU and satellite operators.

In its response, the EBU also stated that in recent years it has actively cooperated with BHRT and relevant stakeholders to find a solution for the long-standing financial difficulties.

"This situation reflects a structural financial crisis that has been affecting BHRT for many years and requires a sustainable and final solution. The EBU has proposed several repayment plans in an effort to reach a sustainable agreement, but due to the ongoing financial crisis, these could not be implemented.

The management and employees of BHRT have consistently participated constructively in seeking solutions. However, despite continuous communication with the government, we have not received a formal proposal from the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina that would help resolve this situation," the response concluded.

The public state service BHRT temporarily interrupted the broadcasting of its regular program this morning.

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BHRT interrupted regular programming, only news will be broadcast!

(Patria) - BHRT will not broadcast regular programming today, only news or informational programming which will be broadcast according to the daily schedule.

At a press conference, General Director Belmin Karamehmedović stated that the deadline given by the EBU to the BiH authorities to offer a solution for BHRT's debt repayment to them is expiring.

BHRT currently employs 775 people.

More than 50 million marks (approximately 25 million euros) are owed to employees for taxes and contributions on salaries, of which 2.5 million (1.28 million euros) must be paid immediately based on final court judgments.

The public service could also be left without electricity due to a debt of 1.56 million marks (approximately 800,000 euros) to Elektroprivreda BiH, and it is also at risk of gas disconnection due to obligations of 300,000 marks (approximately 154,000 euros) to Sarajevogas.

In March last year, the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed BHRT's legal right to a portion of the RTV tax collected in Republika Srpska, annulling previous lower court rulings in RS that favored RTRs, and ordered the retrial of court proceedings before the courts in Banja Luka.

Following this, in July, the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska issued decisions in two proceedings confirming BHRT's right to funds from the RTV tax, putting an end to the dispute with RTRs regarding the collection and distribution of funds.

BHRT requested a loan of 100 million marks (approximately 50 million euros) with deferred payment from the Parliament and Council of Ministers of BiH to cover debts, which would be repaid after the conclusion of disputes with RTRs, and an additional 25 million marks (approximately 12.5 million euros) from the surplus revenue of the Communications Regulatory Agency to settle obligations to the EBU and final court judgments.

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Will the Council of Ministers of BiH and RAK save BHRT from shutting down?

(Patria) - At the end of November 2025, during protests in front of the State Parliament, and again in February 2026, BHRT submitted proposals to the competent institutions for overcoming the crisis. Among them are: - Securing credit funds in the amount of

However, representatives of Republika Srpska in state institutions are blocking these initiatives: they refuse to attend sessions of the Parliament and the House of Peoples when BHRT is discussed, and they do not support the requests in the Council of Ministers and the Presidency of BiH.