Power attempt to control online media alarms international organisations

According to the bill, online media will be subject to state licensing and control by KPM, online media operating as nongovernmental organisations will be forced to open companies to meet the requirements of licensing, online media operating as non-governmental organisations, will be forced to open companies to meet the demand of licensing, online media will be forced to register to the online media registry, which will be managed by the KP, online media will have access to the KP in case of change over 10%, the media will submit to sanctions at 40,000, the EUP, which will now have four-year-long mandates, and two new members will have no further mandates.

However, the Association of Kosovo Journalists in a reaction has stated that legal changes, which are reasoned on behalf of the approach of local legislation to the European one, are contrary to Council of Europe standards ( KiE) and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSBE).
The AGK considers the prime minister's office's legal initiative to control online media through licensing is the next attack on media freedom rights and pluralism.

The state's <x0). The bill should be seen as the continuation of the ruling party's hostile approach, the Vetevendosje Movement, to the media and journalists, and its continued attempt to discipline them”, the AGK's response said.

The AGK has clarified that the revised directive of the Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS), with which media legislation in Kosovo is expected, envisions the regulation of the platforms for distribution of videos by media regulators.

For the purposes of this legal initiative, the directive has been wrongly interpreted, without taking into account the local context at all, and ignoring the self-regulation body in Kosovo. The directive in no form envisions that the state puts online media under control through the process of mandatory licensing”, said AGK's joint response with the Kosovo Report Media Council and jurists for media rights, Vithean Kusari.

The government, beyond the media, according to AGK, has extended the search attempt to the KPM institution itself.

The growth of the 11 members is unreasonable and based solely on the desire of the ruling party to fill this institution with its support. This is confirmed even with the proposal that each member will have the opportunity to compete for two mandates, so that those appointed during this legislature in the Parliament and continue to enjoy the support of the ruling parties in another legislature, that is, they may be part of the KPM for eight total years”, has praised the AGK.

The AGK has stated there was a high level of nontransparentity during the legislative initiative.

“Draft law is prepared with a deep lack of transparency and without the involvement of journalists, media, activists and other civil society organisations. Only after completing the first draft did he present himself to a limited group as an act committed. This approach is completely undemocratic, unacceptable and disappointing. Media legislation cannot be drafted without the actual involvement of the media sector”, AGK's reaction said.
Legal changes in the form they are now, according to AGK, will result, not in media improvement, but in political control over online media, control that will be exercised by any political party that will enjoy power.

OSCE Reaction

The mission of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSBE) in Kosovo has stated Tuesday that the Bill for the Independent Commission for Media (KPM), which aims to regulate online media, should avoid any inadequate restrictions on freedom of expression and any unfair influence on media content.

For Radio Free Europe, O The SB has stated that the “welcomes the Government's goal of changing and completing the KPM Law in line with the European Union directive, to provide “a more applicable framework for consumer protection, promoting cultural diversity and media pluralism”.

But, it stressed the importance of promoting a favourable “environment for internet media self-regulation based on principles of freedom, responsibility and respect of human rights and democratic values”.

During Tuesday, the European Union Office in Kosovo has stated that changes to this legislation should be made in a way that will not have negative “impact” on media freedom.

Even the European Centre for Press Freedom and Media (ECPME) has called on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's office to reconsider the proposed draft bill for Kosovo KAM.