Brussels, 02/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) want to extend their cooperation on strengthening public service media in European neighbourhood policy countries, stated Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle, the president of the EBU, Jean Paul Philippot, and its director general, Ingrid Deltenre, on 30 August.
Underlining that the EBU is an important ally in promoting freedom of expression and the role of independent public service media, Füle stated that the EU and EBU now want “to broaden our collaboration on the support required by the accession candidate countries for their action plan and the signing of a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the public service media in the EU neighbourhood countries”. “In democratic societies, the existence of independent and long-lasting public service media favours freedom of expression and the values that are indispensable for forming enlightened opinion. We are delighted to develop our cooperation in the candidate countries and also to extend it to other European neighbourhood countries”, Philippot stated (our translation).
The EBU and EU signed an agreement back in July 2012 which focuses on countries that want to join the EU (see EUROPE 10663). (CG/transl.fl)