OSCE warns of "urgent" threat to BHRT survival amid systemic funding failure

In a statement to FENA, the Mission attributed the crisis to the sustained failure to implement the Law on the Public Broadcasting System. This negligence has resulted in the RTV fee not being collected across the entirety of BiH territory, while collected funds are not being distributed to public broadcasters as legally mandated.

Legal obligations and court rulings

The Mission emphasized that authorities must adhere to existing legislation and respect recent judicial decisions. This includes a ruling by the Supreme Court of Republika Srpska, which confirmed that Radio-Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS) lacked a legal basis for withholding revenues from the collected RTV fee.

"This law does not have to be respected only in the RS. It must be implemented throughout the entire territory of the state," the OSCE stated, noting that all relevant legislative bodies at both state and entity levels originally supported the act.

Protecting public interest

While acknowledging that democratic processes are available for those seeking to amend the law, the Mission stressed that any legislative changes must protect the public's right to freedom of information and ensure the long-term independence of all three public broadcasters.

The OSCE highlighted several key requirements for the authorities:

• Immediate temporary measures: Urgent action is required to prevent a BHRT shutdown and ensure the payment of staff salaries.
• Depoliticisation: Issues regarding public broadcasting should be treated as matters of transparent governance and public interest rather than political leverage.
• Rule of law: A law currently in force cannot be ignored or violated.

"A politically independent and financially stable public broadcasting system is not only a legal obligation, but also a clear indicator of the authorities’ commitment to democratic standards," the Mission concluded.