Chairperson of the Committee on Political System, Judiciary and Administration Mr Rifat Rastoder participated in the Regional Conference  titled “Indicators for independence of regulatory bodies in the field of media” , held in Tirana, on 6 and 7 March.

Mr Marco Leidekker, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana and Ms Lejla Dervišagić, Administrative Officer in the Media Division of the Directorate General for Human Rights, had opening statements at the meeting.

Indicators of formal and actual independence of independent regulatory bodies in the field of media were discussed during the continuation of the Conference, and Ms Kristina Irion from Central European University in Budapest and University in Amsterdam spoke about it. Ms Irion presented a study INDIREG, carried out on behalf of the European Commission, containing indicators for independent and efficient functioning of regulatory bodies and services of audio-visual media, with the aim of implementing the rules stemming from the Audiovisual Media Services Directive

Ms Snežana Trpevska, from the School of Journalism and Public Relations also took part in the discussion, speaking on the independence of regulatory bodies, i.e. analysis conducted in the Former Yugoslav Republic Macedonia. Ms Snežana Trpevska spoke on the independence de jure and de facto, citing the aims that were to be implemented for the purpose of regulating regulatory processes.  

Day one of the Conference ended with the panel discussion – focused on topics relating to challenges of independence of regulatory bodies, hence, among other things, development of the legislative framework and transparency of the process were discussed as well as application of the law, strengthening of the internal culture of the independence and resistance in regional bodies, achieving good regulatory practice, etc.

Day two of the regional gathering was marked by the discussion on the topic of independence of regulatory bodies, managing and liberalisation of media, and Ms Zrinjka Peruško, professor in the Department of Journalism and Public Relations of the Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb spoke on the topic.

At the end of the gathering, participants of the meeting had an opportunity to discuss next steps. i.e. defining of conclusions relating to the independence of regulatory bodies and relevant indicators, the final version of which would be subsequently delivered to all participants of the Conference.

The regional conference was held within Council of Europe Project, dealing with improvement of the freedom of expression and informing as well as freedom of media in the South East Europe.  

Apart from the Chairperson of the Committee on Political System, Judiciary and Administration, Secretary of the Committee also participated in the Conference.