Listen to the article
Media Groups Urge EU Intervention as Bosnia’s National Broadcaster Faces Collapse
A coalition of prominent European and international media organizations has issued an urgent appeal to the European Commission, warning that Bosnia & Herzegovina’s state-level public broadcaster, BHRT, is on the brink of collapse after years of financial obstruction and political inaction.
In a strongly-worded joint open letter, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), alongside Central and Eastern European public broadcasters and media freedom advocacy groups, painted a dire picture of the situation. The coalition emphasized that BHRT’s potential shutdown would eliminate the only independent source of nationwide journalism in the politically fragmented country, creating a dangerous information vacuum.
The broadcaster’s financial crisis stems from a systematic withholding of legally mandated revenues by Republika Srpska’s public broadcaster, RTRS, since 2017. According to the letter, RTRS has deprived BHRT of more than €46 million in required RTV-fee contributions. This financial strangulation has left BHRT unable to meet basic obligations, including staff salaries, pension contributions, and essential operational costs.
“The collapse of BHRT would have far-reaching consequences for Bosnia & Herzegovina’s information ecosystem and democratic stability,” said the coalition. “It would effectively remove the sole independent, state-level source of information, leaving citizens vulnerable to foreign-backed disinformation campaigns that have already gained significant traction in the region.”
The timing of this crisis is particularly concerning as Bosnia & Herzegovina navigates its complex EU accession process. Independent media is considered a cornerstone of the democratic reforms required for EU membership, making BHRT’s survival a matter of strategic importance for the country’s European aspirations.
The appeal calls for immediate action on multiple fronts. Domestic authorities are urged to ensure proper funding mechanisms, resolve outstanding pension contribution issues, and establish a sustainable long-term financing model for public broadcasting. Meanwhile, the European Commission and broader international community are being asked to leverage their influence to prevent what the signatories describe as an imminent media freedom catastrophe.
Media experts note that Bosnia & Herzegovina’s complex political structure, divided between the Serb-dominated Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, has created persistent challenges for state-level institutions. BHRT has long been caught in the crossfire of ethnic and political tensions that have defined the country since the 1990s Balkan conflicts.
The letter comes amid growing regional concerns about media freedom backsliding across the Western Balkans. Several countries in the region have seen declining press freedom indicators in recent years, with political interference, financial pressure, and hostile rhetoric against journalists becoming increasingly common.
Public broadcasting holds particular significance in Bosnia & Herzegovina, where surveys indicate citizens place higher trust in media than in many other public institutions. BHRT has served as a rare unifying media platform in a deeply divided society, providing programming that crosses ethnic boundaries and serves all constituent peoples.
The impressive list of signatories underscores the international concern about the situation. In addition to the EBU, the letter was endorsed by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, PEN International, Reporters Without Borders, the International Federation of Journalists, Article 19, and numerous public broadcasters including Czech Television, Slovenia’s RTVSLO, Ukraine’s Suspilne, Kosovo’s RTK, and Lithuania’s LRT.
Media freedom advocates warn that allowing BHRT to collapse would not only harm Bosnia’s information landscape but could potentially destabilize the broader region, where ethnic tensions remain near the surface and disinformation campaigns actively target societal divisions.
As the situation reaches a critical point, all eyes are now on Brussels and local authorities to determine whether this cornerstone of Bosnia’s democratic infrastructure can be saved before it’s too late.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
11 Comments
This is a very worrying development. The withholding of funds by RTRS appears to be a clear attempt to cripple BHRT and silence independent journalism. The EU must act quickly to resolve this crisis and protect the broadcaster’s ability to operate freely and serve the public interest.
I agree, the EU needs to step in and use its influence to ensure BHRT’s financial stability and independence. Allowing the broadcaster to collapse would have serious implications for media pluralism and democratic discourse in the region.
This is a complex situation, but the potential collapse of BHRT would be a major blow to media freedom and democracy in Bosnia. The systematic withholding of funds by RTRS appears to be a blatant attempt to silence critical voices. The EU must take urgent action to resolve this crisis.
The potential shutdown of BHRT is very concerning. As the only independent nationwide broadcaster, its collapse would create a dangerous information void that could fuel instability and disinformation in the region. The EU must intervene to ensure BHRT’s financial viability and protect media pluralism.
The situation with BHRT is deeply concerning. Losing the country’s only independent nationwide broadcaster would be a major blow to media freedom and create a dangerous information vacuum. The EU should intervene urgently to ensure BHRT’s financial viability and prevent its collapse.
This is a worrying situation. Losing the country’s only independent national broadcaster could create a dangerous information vacuum and undermine regional stability. The EU should intervene to ensure BHRT’s financial viability and protect media freedom.
I agree, this is a critical issue. The withholding of required funding by RTRS appears to be a deliberate effort to cripple BHRT and limit independent journalism. The EU must act quickly to resolve this crisis.
This is a troubling development. BHRT’s financial crisis stemming from the withholding of required funds by RTRS seems to be a politically-motivated attack on independent journalism. The EU must act quickly to resolve this issue and safeguard the broadcaster’s ability to operate freely.
I agree, the EU needs to step in to protect BHRT and prevent the loss of this critical independent media outlet. The regional implications of its collapse could be severe, undermining democratic discourse and increasing the risk of instability.
The financial crisis facing BHRT is deeply concerning. Cutting off its funding seems like a politically-motivated attempt to silence dissenting voices and restrict access to objective information. This could have serious consequences for the country’s fragile democracy.
You’re right, this is a worrying development. The regional implications are potentially serious if BHRT is forced to shut down. The EU needs to intervene to protect media pluralism and ensure public service broadcasting can continue operating independently.