Serbia REM Council divided over media regulation measures

Miloš Garić, a member of Serbia’s Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), has stated that the regulator must strictly adhere to the law to maintain independence, regardless of political pressure or external demands.

Garić noted that while the Council has reached unanimous decisions on certain matters, such as the election of its president, significant divisions have emerged regarding measures taken following complaints against specific media outlets. These disagreements have primarily centered on how the Council handles reports and expert service findings concerning television stations, including Informer TV.

He emphasized that the Council’s role is not merely to formally confirm the opinions of expert services, but to independently assess cases. Garić argued that deviating from regulations to satisfy specific interests or political structures would jeopardize the stability and autonomy of the regulatory body.