National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia / Activities / Activity details
Wednesday, 27 March 2013
Eighth Sitting of the Culture and Information Committee
At the sitting held on 27 March, the Culture and Information Committee reviewed the implementation of the Law on Cinematography, of 20 December 2011, as regards the adoption of the Draft Law on fees for the use of public goods and the impact of the implementation of the Law amending and modifying the Budget System on the funding of cultural institutions.
Committee Chairperson Vesna Marjanovic pointed out that the adoption of a law on fees for the use of public goods would threaten film funding i.e. prevent the implementation of article 19 of the Law on Cinematography which secures funds for the stimulation of national cinematography.
Speaking of the Draft Law on fees for the use of public goods, the representative of the Ministry of Finance and Economy explained the role said fees play in the budget, stressing that then Budget Law envisages the elimination of personal income of budget beneficiaries starting January 2014. Considering that this prevents the implementation of article 19 of the Law on Cinematography, the representative of the Ministry of Finance and Economy offered alternative solutions which could help overcome the problem of cinematography funding.
In the debate, the Committee members, representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information, Film Centre Serbia and Association of Film Directors of Serbia highlighted the difficult situation in the sphere of culture and film primarily stemming from the insufficient funds allocated in the budget and suggested determining compensation for cinematography as a possible lasting solution for the funding of the field. They concluded that, first and foremost, the implementation of the Law on Cinematography should be ensured in 2013, the Law on Cinematography should be harmonized with future laws, especially laws not directly in the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Information, amendments to the Budget Law and amendments and modifications to the Income Tax Law should also be initiated.
The Committee went on to adopt the Proposal of the Decision on the organisation of a joint sitting of the Culture and Information Committee and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Sub-Committee on the Media and Information Society.
The Committee Chairperson informed the Committee members that two public hearings will be held on 3 and 5 April on the topics of culture funding problems and debate on the Draft Law on public information and media.
The sitting was chaired by Vesna Marjanovic, Committee Chairperson.