Zagreb - Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek told parliament on Tuesday that the final text of the law implementing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) aims to safeguard media independence from political influence.
"EMFA implementation and Croatian media legislation ensure media independence from political influence. It is in everyone's interest to eliminate any suspicions of influence," Obuljen Koržinek said during debate on the bill implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 establishing a common framework for media services and amending Directive 2010/13/EU.
She highlighted that no political group is fully satisfied with media pluralism in Croatia, which she said confirms a plural media landscape that must be protected. She condemned attacks, incitement, disinformation, pressure and hate speech against journalists on social media, urging collective opposition.
The EU regulation, in force since 8 August 2025, applies directly in all member states and establishes a common framework for all media services while preserving independence and pluralism.
The law will transform the Electronic Media Agency into a broader Media Agency covering print media, and set rules on ownership transparency, funding sources, public advertising and allocation of funds for programme production and broadcasting.
Obuljen Koržinek noted that the Electronic Media Agency's website already provides detailed information on media ownership, funding and every euro of public and private advertising, with plans to expand such tools. Media providers, electronic publications and video-sharing platforms must label content generated by artificial intelligence, she added, stressing that AI regulation is in its early stages.
She also announced further investments in media literacy, fact-checking and professional journalism, and plans to adopt a new Media Act in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Citing a European Commission report, Mirela Ahmetović (SDP) noted Croatia fell 12 places to 60th in media independence, concluding that the media in Croatia are not independent.
MPs Miro Bulj (Bridge) and Damir Biloglav (DOMiNO) criticised funding decisions for the Serb minority weekly Novosti and the closure of the cultural weekly Hrvatsko Slovo. Obuljen Koržinek replied that the Culture Ministry does not fund any media, including Novosti, and that Hrvatsko Slovo had failed to justify previously received funds.