The Committee sitting was attended by Minister of Culture and Information Bratislav Petkovic, State Secretary Miroslav Tasic and Assistant Minister Dragan Kolarevic who outlined the Ministry’s priorities and spoke of the situation in certain cultural institutions and in the sphere of information.

The Committee members stressed that the funds allocated for the sphere of culture and information in next year’s budget proposal are inexcusably low and do not allow for the performance of basic functions. The planned funds are lower than last year’s and are mainly channeled into investment and for the maintenance of institutions in the field, but do not allow for development and better protection of cultural property, particularly in local communities.

The Committee proposed that, in addition to the relevant Ministry of Culture and Information, representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Economy also be invited to the deliberation on the 2013 Budget Proposal so that they may be informed that the planned budget funds were insufficient, which would have an impact on the sphere as a whole.

The Committee members also proposed to debate Serbia’s media strategy at one of the upcoming sittings, which was declared very important and which would be followed by new laws on public information, electronic media, public service and other. They also requested a debate on the implementation of the Culture Law, the by-laws for which are yet to be adopted.