Vucic draws connection between lack of decision on 5th TV frequency and Kosovo

Speaking about the ten-year wait for the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities as one of the reasons why the Serb List will not participate in the local elections in four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo, Vucic stressed that the European Union is the guarantor of the Brussels Agreement, yet is complaining about certain deadlines in its report on the country.

He said that the 10-year-long wait is not only Pristina's fault but also that of the EU, which is the guarantor of the Brussels Agreement. Vucic noted that former High Representative of the European Union Catherine Ashton signed it, but “they didn't implement it.”

“And the Serbs, after nine and a half years of mistreatment, shooting, bullying, say no, we will not do what you signed 10 years ago. Again, they blame the Serbs. They say there was time to do it from December to January. Time for what? For shooting two children, almost killing two children not far from Strpci. For the attempted murder of Jovanovic the other day. And then someone organises an election under such conditions? That's what those who interfere here tell us: "You have to give the fifth national TV frequency to someone",” said Vucic at a press conference on the demonstration of the military capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces in Batajnica.

The deadline for awarding the fifth frequency expired in December last year, but the Regulatory Authority of Electronic Media (REM) has not made a decision yet.

Television Nova S, which operates within United Media as well as TV N1, is among those who have been in the competition for the fifth national TV license. Nova S sued REM for not making a decision on the allocation of the only remaining free national frequency, after which the president of the Council of that body, Olivera Zekic, said that the decision will not be made while the court case is ongoing.

In the compromise text of the amendment to the Draft Report on the 2022 Commission report on Serbia.

The document “calls for the fifth licence to be awarded through a transparent and impartial process without unnecessary delay and in compliance with international media freedom standards.”