Power is being maintained by the internationals what the KPM Law expects to be sent to Constitutional

The chief of the European Union Office in Kosovo, Thomas Szunyog, expressed regret that the Parliament adopted the “law without addressing concerns” and did not line up beside EU standards.

German Ambassador to Pristina Jorn Rohde also said Kosovo ignored the EU, Council of Europe and O positions The SEU for this law.

While the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK) said in a Facebook response that it has accepted “concern” the adoption of the Bill and sought to challenge its introduction into force.

Voter MPs from opposition parties -- LDK, PDK and AAK -- who left the hearing after their request to remove this bill from the agenda was not supported by the ruling party, the Vetevendosje Movement.

The LDK and PDK have rejected this law and announced Thursday afternoon that they will submit it to the Constitutional Court.

To enter into force, the KPM Bill after adopting the Assembly must be signed by the country's president, Vjosa Osmani.

But what does the KPM bill foresee?

The bill adopted Thursday, July 11th, envisions the licensing and controlling of online media producing videos from the KPM, earlier in this body, had been obliged to register only audio-visual media.

Independent Media Commission (KPM) founded in 2005 is a competent body for regulation, management and monitoring of the spectrum of transmission frequencies in the Republic of Kosovo.

Under this bill, media operating as nongovernmental organisations will have to open companies to meet the terms of licensing by the KPM.

Also, the media should receive KPM permission in case of changing ownership over 10 per cent.

According to him, online media would submit to the sanctions regime worth up to 40,000 euros for eventual violations such as disrespect of the law, failure to submit the annual report to KPM within the deadline, failure to save the transmission archive, disregarding the time set for broadcasting, as well as some other cases.

In addition to the involvement of online media producing videos under KPM monitoring, the new law envisions increasing the number of KPM members from seven to 11 and extending their mandate.

KPM members are voted to vote on by the Assembly of the Republic of Kosovo and, according to the Association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK), this increase of staff in the KPM can be misused by the government “to send their people”, who could stay longer in their positions, thus jeopardising, according to them, KPM independence.

Meanwhile, for this bill, days ago the EU Office in Kosovo reacted, saying that despite some of the Council of Europe's recommendations, legislation needs further revisions to improve legal clarity and adapt more to the standards of the European bloc and the Council of Europe.

This bill was adopted by the Kosovo Government on December 27th last year, and has been submitted for approval to the Kosovo Assembly, where it was approved in first reading on 7 March of this year.

The association of Kosovo Journalists (AGK) and the Kosovo Media Council written (KMSHK) had called on the Kosovo Government to give up changes to the bill immediately, as something like that was considered “the attack on the media”.

The mission of the OSCE and the EU earlier said they support the purpose of the draft law to harmonise Kosovo's legislation with relevant EU provisions, including the Audio-Visual Services directive, but, “sic emphasises the Council of Europe's report, more work is needed in the draft to ensure that it does not underestimate KP's independence or create legal contradiction<1>.