Skopje, 25 January 2023 – Today, the Delegation of the European Union and the Ministry of Information Society and Administration launched the project “EU for Freedom of Expression: Alignment of National Media Legislation with EU Acquis and Media Standards,” aimed at alignment of national media legislation with the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the European media standards.
The introductory speeches were held by EU Ambassador David Geer, Minister of Information Society and Administration Admirim Aliti, Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska and the Director of the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media, Zoran Trajchevski.
As AAAVMS Director Trajchevski, PhD, pointed out, the rapid development of technology and the emergence of new media have drastically changed the way information and other content are received, and the differences between traditional and new media are numerous to an extend where one cannot apply the same regulatory framework to both. Consequently, in line with the new European regulation that addresses these issues, it is necessary to amend the Macedonian laws regulating the media sphere. After the harmonized laws will be adopted, the AAAVMS will amend the existing bylaws and adopt new ones according to the needs.
Ms Emilia Janevska, M.Sc., Head of the Programme Affairs Department, spoke at the debate dedicated to the current media landscape in the country and the requirements imposed by the European regulation, pointing out the challenges ahead for the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services following the national media laws alignment with the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
Presented at the event were the project’s initial findings regarding the alignment of the media-related legislation with the Directive, while the Ministry of Information Society and Administration presented the roadmap for the process of consultations and implementation of the necessary reforms.