The deadline to settle a debt of around 11 million euros to the European Broadcasting Union expires in two days. If the obligations are not met, enforcement proceedings will continue and a prolonged freezing of bank accounts may follow, which could seriously disrupt the functioning of the public service.
According to the management, BHRT’s total liabilities exceed 100 million convertible marks, or roughly 50 million euros. In addition to the debt to the international association, the broadcaster faces unpaid taxes and social contributions, energy costs and outstanding payments to domestic suppliers.
BHRT states that the situation stems from the failure to implement legal provisions. Radio-televizija Republike Srpske has, according to the broadcaster, not transferred half of the collected licence fee to the national television service since 2017, although this share is prescribed by law. Several court proceedings have been initiated, and a proposal has also been submitted to secure a loan backed by a guarantee from the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has three public broadcasting services. Half of the collected licence fee is allocated to the national broadcaster, while the remainder is shared by the two entity-level services. Ensuring the stable operation of the public media sector remains one of the country’s obligations on its path towards the European Union.
