The Office of the High Representative/EU Special Representative and the European Commission Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovinawelcomed the adoption of new Public Broadcasting Service legislation by the FBiH Government yesterday.

By passing PBS legislation the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) has taken an important step towards fulfilling a key pre-condition for the signing of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union. This is positive both for Bosnia and Herzegovina and its citizens.

When the reform of the Public Broadcasting System is completed viewers can expect improved standards of broadcasting that reflect the country’s distinctive heritage.

In its ruling of July 2006, the FBiH Constitutional Court asked for three points to be addressed to bring the FBiH’s PBS Law in line with the FBIH Constitution. The legislation adopted by the FBiH Government yesterday included amendments drafted to address those points.

It is disappointing, therefore, that Croat Ministers in the FBiH Government were unable to support this proposal. It is important that the FBiH Parliament adopts this legislation as soon as possible to move the country closer to SAA signature.