Skopje, 30 January 2024 (MIA) – The national radio television is an important stakeholder in the audiovisual sector from the aspect of the protection of the citizens’ interest. In order for it to be able to develop into a completely independent public service, the most important reform should concern the approach that the political elites have towards it. They must realize that the Macedonian Radio Television (MRT) isn’t a simple public enterprise and they cannot see it as political prey. It is essential that both the regulator and the public service possess sufficient financial and human resources, concluded participants at an event Tuesday held as part of the “Enhancement of Capacities of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and the Public Service Broadcaster” twinning project.

The project is funded by the EU and implemented by the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) in cooperation with the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and the Public Service Broadcaster. Tuesday’s event focused on the importance of the functioning of the public broadcasting service for democracy in Europe.

According to the director of the public broadcaster, Marjan Cvetkovski, MRT has achieved progress with the latest legal amendments harmonizing the domestic legislation with the European, but, he said, once again the institutions aren’t complying with the legislation on the financing of the broadcaster and MRT hasn’t received the full amount, as stipulated by the Law, both last year and this year.

In his address at the event, Cvetkovski noted that it is essential to adopt amendments to several laws, or to adopt a new law on MRT, which would remove all limitations on the public broadcaster’s work that make it dependent on several government institutions.

Cvetkovski noted that MRT was completely digitalized in 2012 and was the first broadcasting service in the region to move from SD to HD technology. “The broadcasting service,” he said, “underwent a complete rebranding, renovation and received modernized offices.”

“We have been slowly restoring the quality of the public service as well as the dignity of the staff. We raised the wages at MRT after 15 years, and on six separate occasions too. We showed that in Macedonia there can be a reduction to the administration, while also ensuring a better and higher quality product. We reduced the number of employees by almost 30 percent, and this is proof that we have worked independently and solely in accordance with MRT’s interests,” added Cvetkovski.

The head of the public broadcasting sector also highlighted the adoption of a five-year strategy for the development of MRT, noting that the obligations from it which aren’t related to finance have already been realized.

At the event, the head of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, Zoran Trajchevski, noted that with the amendments to the Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, which has been harmonized with the EU’s revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive since July 2023, the Agency has received additional tasks and is now responsible for other entities in the market, such as video-sharing platforms and influences.

“The Agency and our German colleagues have already started working on drafting bylaws which will further enhance the amended and new legal provisions, using the best experiences and practices from the member states which have already implemented the revised Directive,” said Trajchevski.

Trajchevski added that in addition to the Agency, MRT is also a beneficiary of the project, as an equally important entity in the audiovisual sector from the aspect of the protection of the citizens’ interests and their right to receive timely, objective and accurate information, free from partisan or business interests.

However, Trajchevski stressed that in order for the regulator and the public broadcaster to be able to fulfill their tasks and responsibilities, it is essential for them to possess the appropriate financial and human resources.

“We hope that the Ministry of Information Society and Administration will find a way to ensure stable financing of these two institutions, including MRT, thereby ensuring that the functioning of the entire audiovisual sector isn’t threatened,” said Trajchevski.

Photo: MIA