International community calls on authorities in BiH to act and prevent the collapse of the public RTV system

(Patria) - The EU, OHR, OSCE, and the Embassies of the United Kingdom and the United States call on the authorities in BiH to act in order to prevent the collapse of the public RTV system.

"The public RTV system should play a key role in preserving democratic principles, informing citizens, and promoting freedom of information. However, due to years of political interference and poor management, the public RTV system has been brought to the brink of insolvency, which jeopardizes the fulfillment of its function in the public interest and poses a serious threat to media pluralism and democratic dialogue.

The failure to implement the Law on the Public RTV System of BiH has allowed political pressures and party and ethnonationalist agendas to undermine the editorial independence of the public RTV system and erode trust in its ability to provide impartial and objective information.

Finding a sustainable model for financing the public RTV system is a key priority on the European path, is part of the relevant obligations that BiH has undertaken as a member state of the OSCE, and is also one of the prerequisites for the integration and functioning of the system as a whole, and as such requires urgent resolution. In parallel, the authorities in BiH should support efforts to equip the public RTV system to meet the needs of the modern digital environment. The proper functioning of the public RTV system is not only a matter of media freedom but also an indicator of Bosnia and Herzegovina's commitment to democratic values and the rule of law," the call from international missions and embassies states.