European Union

The European Union Office in Kosovo welcomes the recent adoption of the laws on Radio Television of Kosovo and on the Independent Media Commission. These laws provide a sound legal basis to ensure the functioning of two independent institutions that will serve the Kosovo public interest, untouched by the political influences and according to the best EU practices.
The law on RTK provides the public broadcaster with safeguards for its editorial independence as well as public responsibility, and also envisages a sustainable solution for its financing. The law on IMC guarantees that this regulatory body will be able to exercise its competences in promoting ethical and technical standards among Kosovo's broadcast media, in line with European standards of professionalism and fairness in their reporting.  It will also preserve the IMC’s necessary independence despite an evolution in its mandate.

The Assembly benefited from substantial assistance from the EU to ensure that these two laws were not only compatible with European standards but also upheld the best EU practices.

It is crucial that these laws are now implemented and in particular we call upon the Kosovo Assembly to move forward the process of appointing members of the Independent Media Commission Council.