The new prize, supported personally by Erhard Busek, the special co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, is just one small part of SEEMO's activities.The organisation also analyses the legal framework in which journalists operate, and lobbies national governments to bring laws into line with international standards.For example, SEEMO is encouraging the Serbian and Montenegrin governments to make defamation a civil -- rather than a criminal -- offence.
Noul premiu, sustinut personal de catre Erhard Buzek, coordonatorul special al Pactului de Stabilitate pentru Europa de Sud-Est, este insa numai o mica parte din programul SEEMO. Organizatia analizeaza de asemenea cadrul legislativ in care lucreaza jurnalistii si face lobby in guverne pentru promovarea unei legislatii aliniate standardelor internationale. De exemplu, SEEMO incurajeaza guvernele Serbiei si Muntenegrului sa transforme calomnia dintr-o ofensa pedepsita de codul penal intr-una pedepsita de codul civil.