Numerous Conclusions Adopted Regarding the Survival of BHRT, but Without the Institutions' Budget There Is No Money

(Patria) - The House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina at yesterday's session adopted a proposal of measures and conclusions to overcome the current alarming financial collapse, as well as to establish an efficient long-term model of financing and functioning of BHRT, submitted by the Commission for Transport and Communications of the House of Representatives of the PA BiH. As stated by the Chairman of the Commission, Jasmin Imamović, bankruptcy is increasingly certain for BHRT unless something changes soon. He noted that more than 60 percent of BHRT employees have a minimum wage of 1,000 KM.

- The House of Representatives of the PA BiH notes that the Public Radio and Television Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) is in serious danger of ceasing operations and declaring bankruptcy after prolonged denial of stable financing, which is a result of the non-implementation of the Law on the Public Radio-Television System of Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2005.

- Due to the extremely complex financial situation in BHRT and the inability to pay BHRT's debts on various grounds (debt to the European Broadcasting Union, debt for salaries, contributions, utility services, etc.), the House of Representatives of the PA BiH instructs the Council of Ministers of BiH to plan and allocate financial resources in the amount of 20,000,000.00 KM for the needs of BHRT in the budget of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

- The House of Representatives of the PA BiH requests from the Council of the Regulatory Agency for Communications of BiH to submit to the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, within 15 days, based on Article 22, paragraphs (1), (2) and (4) of the Law on the Public Radio-Television System of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Proposal for a Decision on the amount of the RTV fee for parliamentary procedure, particularly considering the fact that the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH, acting on the proposal of the Agency, adopted the Decision on the amount of the RTV fee which entered into force on June 5, 2015 (Official Gazette of BiH, No. 45/15).

- The House of Representatives of the PA BiH reminds the Government of the Federation of BiH that the House of Representatives of the PA BiH, at its 22nd session held on October 22, 2024, adopted a conclusion proposing to the Government of the Federation of BiH to urgently amend Article 29, paragraph (2) of the Law on Enforcement Procedure of the Federation of BiH, in such a way that the RTV fee account or an extract from business books for the price of the RTV fee also has the character of a credible document, which would enable an increase in the collection rate of the RTV fee in the Federation of BiH.

- The House of Representatives of the PA BiH requests from the Management Board and management of BHRT to, within 60 days, prepare a Plan for the rationalization and consolidation of BHRT and submit it to the House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives of the PA BiH also voted on the list of candidates for the Management Board of BHRT, thus appointing Dževdet Tuzlić, Jozo Pavković, Kosta Petrušić, and Ljubomir Zuber. This appointment must also be confirmed by the House of Peoples of the PA BiH.

Also, at the session, a proposal for amendments to the Law on the Public RTV Service was adopted, reducing the compensation for members of the Management Board from three to two minimum wages. These amendments must also pass through the House of Peoples of the PA BiH.