The Media Development Center prepared an analysis of the Draft-Law on Media and Audiovisual Media Services, released to the public by the Government of Macedonia on April 8, 2013, prepared behind close doors, without any consultations with the expert community.

At that, the Government never really opened the debate on the need to adopt such a law, having in mind that in the existing legal system in the Republic of Macedonia, with exception of broadcasting, the other types of media and the work of journalists were never made subject to regulation.

In the preparation of this analysis, the Media Development Centre took into consideration the remarks, comments and suggestions by the majority of associations of journalists and media workers in the Republic of Macedonia.

The analysis focuses on the Draft-Law on Media and Audiovisual Media Services from the viewpoint of its compatibility with international standards and EU’s acquis communautaire, specifically with the EU Directive on Audiovisual Media Services, the Convention on Transfrontier Television and recommendations and resolutions of the Council of Europe.

This analysis doesn’t cover the provisions of the chapters on the public broadcasting service and the broadcasting fee which will be subject to a separate analysis.

This analysis identifies the defects of the proposed Draft-Law on Media and Audiovisual Media Services and makes recommendations how to overcome those defects. The analysis aims to contribute to adoption of adequate normative solutions that will respond to the contemporary challenges and needs of the media in the Republic of Macedonia.

The full text of the analysis is attached below.

MDC_Analysis of the draft-law on media and audiovisual media services_May 2013