Freedom of expression and freedom of the media are essential freedoms of the people of the Western Balkans that need to be protected in line with European standards. The programme has been working together with the beneficiary institutions, civil society organisations, and media associations, so they continue building their capacities to better protect these two rights.

Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are often used by the political and economic power holders as means of pressuring journalists. SLAPPs and other common threats against journalists and ways to address them were among the issues discussed at the two-day workshop in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The increasing use of SLAPPs in North Macedonia was also one of the main points of the thematic discussion held in Skopje in April. The key stakeholders, media experts and media professionals had an opportunity to also discuss the importance of the European Legal Framework Against SLAPPs, as well as the recent amendments to the Criminal Code in North Macedonia, as a positive step towards better protection of journalists.

In Serbia, with the support of the programme, the Serbian Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) recently introduced Rulebooks (by-laws) which aim to bolster human rights protection, safeguard minors, regulate election-related content, ensure accessibility, and promote local cultural content.

The prosecutors and judges in Albania, who serve as media magistrates in their judicial institutions, had an opportunity to enhance their knowledge about the European standards on freedom of expression and the media, as well as the relevant Albanian legal framework, but also learned how to improve their media communication skills, especially during crises.

With the support of the programme, the Council of Europe has provided a Legal Opinion on the Draft Law on the Independent Media Commission in Kosovo*. This initiative reflects the commitment of Kosovo to strengthening media regulation, as the Draft Law aims to establish a robust framework for audiovisual media services, fostering an independent and transparent media environment, in line with European standards.

To encourage regional co-operation among regulatory authorities in the Western Balkans, a peer review workshop was held in June. Representatives from regulatory authorities thoroughly discussed their roles and capacities in combating the pervasive issue of disinformation and misinformation in the media, as well as regulating harmful content.

 

 

 

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.