Brussels, 11/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 11 October, a high-level group was convened by European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes to provide recommendations for the respect, protection, support and promotion of media freedom and pluralism in Europe. The group, which will be fully independent, will be chaired by the former president of Latvia, Professor Vaira Vîíe-Freiberga.
The Commission invites the group to analyse and establish recommendations on issues such as: - limitations to media freedom arising from political interference (state intervention or national legislation); - limitations to media independence arising from private and commercial interference; - the question of the concentration of media ownership and its consequences for media freedom/pluralism and on the independence of journalists; - existing or potential legal threats to the protection of journalists' rights and their profession in member states; - the role and independence of regulatory authorities; - and existing or potential measures in favour of quality journalism, ethics and media accountability, within the respective competences of national, EU and international authorities. (OL/transl.jl)