Brussels, 25/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - On 24 July 2012, the European Commission and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support reform and ensure the viability of public service broadcasting in countries wishing to join the European Union. The EBU and the Commission will work together to help enlargement countries establish public service media that fulfil standards of independence, effectiveness, public accountability and economic sustainability. Welcoming the agreement, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Füle said: “The EU enlargement process is about assisting the aspirant countries with their transformation and reaching European standards in all areas of life. For the challenging task of helping public broadcasters with the reform, we have an important ally with the necessary expertise and experience, the EBU, with whom we share the same goals of promoting freedom of expression and public service media”. He added that, to ensure changes are long-lasting, reform of public broadcasting will necessarily be a complex process to ensure it remains financially viable, to provide protection against undue political interference and to provide access to modern technology that is crucial for development in the modern media world. Füle expressed support for EBU's work in the Caucasus region and North Africa. He and the head of the EBU, Jean-Paul Philippot, agreed to work more closely in countries bordering on the EU.
The MoU is part of the EBU Partnership Programme (EPP) which aims to strengthen public service media in Europe through tailored interventions to selected EBU members in need of strategic consultancy, lobbying, training and political intervention. Activities are carried out in partnership with the broadcaster concerned and fellow members acting in a spirit of solidarity, often with the support of external bodies, such as the European Commission. (IL/transl.fl)