The EU has expressed its concern about the enforcement of amendments to the criminal code of the Republika Srpska entity, which reintroduces criminal penalties for defamation. The EU’s position is that this legislation has come into force in the Bosnian Serb entity and that these legal changes impose unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on independent media and civil society, severely impacting the enabling civil society environment and restricting freedom of expression and the media. Furthermore, the EU expects all authorities to work constructively to address the key priorities outlined in the EC’s Opinion, which are necessary for the opening of the EU accession negotiations with BiH. Read more here.
Source: European Western Balkans