Considering the constant developments in the field of media regulation in line with Europen standards and EU acquis as well as the need for the harmonization with the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive, an online workshop was organised in Skopje for the Мedia regulatory authority.
This workshop gathered relevant professionals from the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services and civil servants from the Ministry of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia, aiming at deepening their knowledge of the EU Directive and paving the way forward to harmonization with the European standards. During the two days workshop, Ms Deirdre Kevin, the international expert of the Council of Europe, introduced the latest developments of the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive and presented and elaborated on several topics such as the Digital Services Act, video-sharing platforms included in the Directive as well independence of audiovisual regulators. During her remarks the obligations to promote European works for on-demand services, as well as a stronger protection of minors against harmful content in the online world were highlighted. The participants had the opportunity to further discuss self- and co-regulation practices and on the strengthened provisions for protecting children from inappropriate audiovisual commercial communications.
During the workshop the overview of various changes made to the EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive was presented and discussed with the participants what is the best way to transpose them in the domestic legislation. The fruitful exchange during both days of the workshop raised important issues on what shall be the next steps towards the harmonisation of domestic legislation in North Macedonia, who shall be responsible for this process and coordinate with all the relevant stakeholders, etc. The exchange on various experiences from other EU countries during this workshop came useful in finding the best tailored solution for the upcoming process or harmonization with this Directive in North Macedonia.
This workshop was organised within the action on “Freedom of expression and freedom of the media in North Macedonia (JUFREX 2)”. This action is a part of the joint European Union/Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey II”, that enables the Beneficiaries to meet their reform agendas in the fields of human rights, rule of law and democracy and to comply with the European standards, including where relevant within the framework of the EU enlargement process.
