Meeting at Elektroprivreda BiH on Wednesday: Can RTVFBiH and BHRT reach an agreement on fee collection?

(Patria) - Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Edin Forto and BHRT General Director Belmin Karamehmedović signed an Agreement today in Sarajevo, based on the decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH, securing 4 million KM for the Public RTV System of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Along with other obligations, a sustainable public service is a key prerequisite for Bosnia and Herzegovina's entry into the EU. This is not a permanent solution to the issue of sustainability, but it is the support needed by BHRT in this difficult period. Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to private media, must have something that comes under the patronage of the state of BiH, and that is public services, such as BHRT, and therefore finding its sustainable financing is of great importance," said Forto.

He emphasized that it is necessary to regulate the collection and distribution of the RTV fee within the Federation of BiH. A new attempt at an agreement between BHRT and FTV has been announced for Wednesday, organized by Elektroprivreda BiH.

"As soon as possible, BHRT and FTV should sign a contract to continue collecting the RTV fee in the Federation of BiH. The issue of a solution regarding the legal basis remains. RTRS left the RTV subscription system and disrupted it in 2017. I hope that this case, which is in court, will be resolved as soon as possible in favor of BHRT," Forto pointed out.

When asked when the funds from the Council of Ministers of BiH will become operational, i.e., when BHRT workers can expect their salaries, which have not yet been paid, Forto said he does not know exactly, that it is an administrative matter.

"It remains for the agreement to be protocolized and other administrative matters to be completed. But it is a matter of days before the funds become operational," Forto emphasized.

BHRT General Director Belmin Karamehmedović pointed out that the funds to be disbursed by the Council of Ministers of BiH are significant for BHRT.

"It will allow us, in this very difficult situation we have found ourselves in since the beginning of this year, to fulfill part of our obligations within a period of two to three months. The funds will be used in the best possible way. It is necessary to find solutions for financing the public services BHRT and FTV until amendments to the law at the state level. RTRS left the public broadcasting system in 2017. We hope that this will be resolved in the ongoing court dispute," Karamehmedović concluded.

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina earlier, upon the proposal of the Minister of Communications and Transport Edin Forto, adopted a decision securing four million KM for the Public Radio and Television Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina for studio and production capacities for producing signals in HD resolution, as well as three million KM each for the entity governments to stimulate the development of the electronic media sector.

Additionally, the funds allocated to BHRT are also intended for the repayment of broadcasting rights for the 2024 European Football Championship and the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, as previously announced by the relevant ministry.

This decision aims to ensure the financial stability of public services, which is one of the 14 EU priorities for accession negotiations, enable the sustainability and functionality of the Public RTV Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and create conditions for support and improvement of the telecommunications and electronic media sector in BiH.

Elektroprivreda BiH has invited the managements of BHRT and FTV to a meeting on Wednesday, where solutions for continuing the collection of the RTV fee should be offered.

Given this, the earlier decision to withhold services to Federal Television is suspended, said BHRT General Director Belmin Karamehmedović, hoping that an appropriate agreement will be reached at the meeting.