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The draft law was found to be problematic as it failed to meet specific recommendations made earlier by the OSCE and the Council of Europe (CoE). The European Commission (EC) had also noted that the draft was not in conformity with several aspects of European Union (EU) legislation in this sector.

The Assembly was made aware of these problems in a joint opinion endorsed by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, the OSCE Presence, the EC Delegation, the CoE Office in Albania, and the European Radio-communications Office, forwarded on May 13.

The OSCE Presence, the EC Delegation and the CoE Office expressed their hope that the new Albanian Assembly and other concerned Albanian institutions will have an opportunity to consider new legislation in this field, to bring it into compliance with international standards and, more specifically, with the legislation of the EU, drawing on international expert support already provided.

This law was opposed also by one of Albania’s major media tycoons Koco Kokedhima. The new law intends to create a legal monopoly not only for the terrestrial digital TV media sector, but in the entire broadcasting media market in Albania, according to Mr. Kokedhima.

The media-related work of the OSCE Presence in Albania aims at further developing Albanian media institutions and at raising the standards of local media. The work ranges from the review of draft legislation to the management of projects aimed at enhancing professionalism and raising the ethical standards of journalists. The Presence promotes OSCE values such as freedom of the media and freedom of expression, media professionalism and ethics, the rights of journalists and the development of civil society.

(Source: OSCE Albania)