24 minutes agoIKD: New Law on Independent Media Commission Destroys Constitutional Independence
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)The Kosovo Institute for Justice on Friday published an analysis of the new law on the Independent Media Commission, praising that it completely destroys the constitutional independence of this institution. “E turns this institution into a subordinate institution of the assembly and is easily influenced by the government. This approach to the law of [...]
The Kosovo Institute for Justice on Friday published an analysis of the new law on the Independent Media Commission, praising that it completely destroys the constitutional independence of this institution.
“E turns this institution into a subordinate institution of the assembly and is easily influenced by the government. This approach to the new KPM law is dangerous and directly violates the values and principles of democracy embedded in the Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo”, said Florian Smajli of the Kosovo Institute for Justice.
Mr. Smajli said the KPM needed a new law, but that it would comply overall with European standards.
The Law for Independent Media Commission was adopted last week by Kosovo's parliament, prompting harsh reactions from the opposition, the European Union, journalists' associations and civil society organisations, which named it “over the media freedom and the attempt to discipline and control them”.
This law, among other things, envisions internet media licensing, monitoring them by the KPM, and penalties with heavy penalties for media committing legal violations.
With the new law making up the Independent Media Commission, it is envisioned to go to 11 members from 7 to the actual count.
“The IKD has found that increasing the number of members is an unsupported decision in a literal analysis and does not coincide with the needs of the adequate KPM” operation, Mr. Smajli said, stressing that the <x2 number of members would not increase efficiency or independence”.
On Thursday, the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of Kosovo handed over three laws to the Constitutional Court, among them he for the Independent Media Commission.
“Beyond this law is intended to control the work of free media in Kosovo and to violate free speech in our country”, said parliamentary group chief Abelard Tahiri.
Online media in Kosovo currently fix itself through the Council of Written Media based on the Kosovo Code of Written Media. / VOA/
