The opposition movement PS turned to the European Commission (EC) for the Act on Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). He asks her to review the compliance of the legislation with European law. The movement again criticized the STVR Act, which entered into force on July 1, 2024. This follows from the statement of Zora Jaurová (PS), member of the National Council (NR) of the Slovak Republic, at Tuesday’s press conference.
“On Monday, symbolically November 17, we submitted a citizen’s petition to the EC, where we ask it to review the compliance of the STVR Act with European law, not only with the regulation on media freedom, but also with the basic treaty on the European Union. Article four of the basic treaty talks about so-called loyal cooperation, which means that no member state should adopt laws that contradict the goals or laws that the EU has already adopted“, she explained.
“At the time when the Ministry of Culture submitted this law to the comment procedure, the European Parliament approved this regulation, which clearly contradicted the principle of loyal cooperation,” she noted.
Jaurová once again criticized the STVR Act. She objected that it enabled direct political control over television. She pointed out that already during the legislative process, they drew attention to its possible contradiction with European legislation and the Constitution of the Slovak Republic. She reminded that the opposition turned to the Constitutional Court of the Slovak Republic in this matter. She does not understand why the court has not yet issued a decision, as the consequences of the legislation on the functioning of the STVR are, according to her, very clear.
She expressed her reservations about the situation and functioning of STVR after the adoption of the changes. She spoke about the disruption of the balance of reporting. He also claims that the broadcaster is firing editors and canceling shows on political orders. She also criticized the functioning of the STVR Council. She also spoke about the conflict of interests of Lukáš Machala, who is the general secretary of the service office of the Ministry of Culture and at the same time the vice-chairman of the council.
