RDTL Decree-Law 25/2015 on the Press Council. Rough unofficial translation by La’o Hamutuk. For more information and documents, see http://www.laohamutuk.org/misc/MediaLaw/14MediaLaw.htm Section II Common regulation procedure Article 40 Directives and recommendations 1. Officially or upon request of an interested party, the Press Council can, within its powers, resolve to adopt the following decisions to encourage good practice standards in the media industry: a) General policies; b) Concrete recommendations. 2. Policies and recommendations have no binding character, but must be published pursuant to Article 43. Article 41 Initial Application 1. The application provided for in the previous item 1 is submitted in writing or in person to the Press Council, which is made in writing and signed by the applicant, and contains at least the following elements: a) Identification of the applicant, including full name, civil registry number and contact details; b) Clear identification of the matter or conduct that is the object of the policy or recommendation; c) If applicable, identification of the journalist or media organization in question, the publication or broadcast identification and, where possible, a copy of it. 2. When it is established that there are facts which must be examined under another procedure, the common procedure is automatically converted to the applicable procedure. Article 42. Subsequent Terms 1. During the instruction of the procedure, the Press Council can request additional information from the applicant and hold hearings with the media or targeted journalists. 2. Prior to the adoption of a policy, the Press Council announces the respective project in its electronic site and sets a deadline for not less than thirty days to send written comments and suggestions. 3. Prior to the adoption of a recommendation, the Press Council notifies the media or individual journalists who may be affected by the recommendation and grants them a period, not less than fifteen days to comment in writing. 4. In its decision, the Press Council takes into account all comments, suggestions and observations made under the preceding paragraphs, with the defending recommendations specifically address the observations made under paragraph 3. 5. The resolution shall be adopted by 120 days after the deadlines provided for in paragraphs 3 and 4 and no later than 180 days after the application provided for in Article 41, except for duly justified cases and special complexity. 6. When the procedure is initiated at the request of an interested party and the Press Council acts towards non-adoption of a directive or recommendation, the procedure is filed and the applicant, the media and the targeted journalists notified of the decision. 14