24/03/2023 (Agence Europe) – The spokesperson of the European External Action Service expressed regret on Thursday 23 March over the vote in the Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) National Assembly earlier in the day in favour of amendments to the Republika Srpska Criminal Code reintroducing criminal sanctions for defamation, calling for the withdrawal of the amendments. “These legislative changes would impose unnecessary and disproportionate restrictions on independent media and civil society”, he said in a statement. He said the decision “is a clear step in the wrong direction”. If the law is ultimately adopted, it will have a severe impact on the environment for civil society and freedom of expression and media, which are among the priorities identified as part of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s EU accession process, the spokesperson warned. (CG)