Media associations demand dismissal of REM Council

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Journalist and media associations and unions have demanded the dismissal of members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) Council over years-long activity that is in violation of Article 5 of the Law on Electronic Media, said the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS).

They said REM directly violates the provisions of this article because “it does not contribute to the preservation, protection and development of freedom of opinion, and expression, does not protect the public interest in the field of electronic media and does not protect users of electronic media services.”

The undersigned organizations believe that, with its “latest decision to issue an IPTV and cable broadcasting license to the Insajder tim d.o.o. company, which is the publisher of the daily Informer, REM definitely rendered itself useless because it arrogantly violates the laws governing its operation and the bylaws that it has adopted.”

In addition, they said, REM has been in violation of the law for over six months, that is, since December 2, which is when the legal deadline for the issuance of the fifth national broadcasting license expired.

These organizations believe that “the only solution is for REM Council members to collectively resign due to failure to implement the provisions of the law, neglect of the public interest and promotion of the political influence of the government.”

The signatories include the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), the Slavko Curuvija Foundation, Independent Society of Serbian Journalists, Lokal Press, AS Medi, SINOS and Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS).