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Bosnia and Herzegovina failed to make any meaningful progress in overhauling its media legislation throughout 2025, according to a new monitoring study presented Tuesday by Mediacentar Sarajevo. Key statutes regarding electronic media, communications, and ownership transparency remain unadopted, leaving a significant gap between current laws and those required for EU accession.
Maida Muminovic, Executive Director of Mediacentar, warned that the sustainability of the public broadcasting system, particularly BHRT, has reached a critical low. "Legislation from 2005 is ignored, new bills are stalled, and BHRT is crippled by debt," Muminovic stated.
The report also highlights a worrying trend of authorities using the "fight against disinformation" as a pretext to stifle free speech. Cited examples include a new disinformation office in Republika Srpska and a controversial public order ordinance in Kakanj that has seen police issue misdemeanor charges against journalists.
Furthermore, the impact of criminalising defamation in Republika Srpska is becoming clear. Since 2023, 273 criminal reports have been filed, 47 of which target media workers. While no indictments have been issued yet, Muminovic described the sheer volume of reports as a clear attempt at intimidation.
On a more positive note, the adoption of the Reform Agenda offers a platform for civil society to pressure the government. Dutch Ambassador Henk van den Dool and EU representative Mojca Krsper Figueroa reaffirmed their support, emphasizing that media pluralism is non-negotiable for Bosnia’s European path.
The conference, funded by the EU and the Netherlands, concluded with panels on legal and physical pressures facing the press.
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