Serbia: Ministry of Information fails to disclose local government misdemeanor details

The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) has reported that the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications (MIT) has failed to respond to a public information request for over 20 days. The request sought details regarding misdemeanor proceedings initiated against local governments for failing to meet legal deadlines for announcing media funding competitions.

On October 9, the MIT informed UNS that it had launched misdemeanor proceedings against officials in 14 local governments this year due to non-compliance with statutory deadlines. However, the Ministry did not specify which local governments were involved or when the proceedings began. UNS has filed an appeal with the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection.

According to UNS data, 19 local governments in Serbia announced media competitions after the legal deadline this year, while the municipalities of Vrbas and Gadžin Han have yet to do so. Under the Law on Public Information and Media, competitions for co-financing media projects must be announced by March 1. Officials who fail to meet this deadline face fines ranging from 50,000 to 150,000 dinars.