The love story between the European Union and the Euronews television channel is not ready to be ended so soon. On Tuesday 14 February, the European Commission announced its intention to renew, for four years, the framework agreement which has linked it to Euronews since 2010. This renewal was threatened by the future stake in its capital of the US channel NBC News (NBC Universal/Comcast group).
"We have obtained assurances from Euronews for NBC News' stake in the capital not to change its commitments in favour of unbiased, plural and independent news. We have also been informed that its editorial principles should continue to be applied", the spokesperson for European Commission Vice-President Andrus Ansip (Digital Single Market) stated.
The spokesperson added that the Commission "takes seriously" the concerns raised by the Euronews employees, who went on strike at the end of 2016 to denounce the removal of the Ukrainian service. "The Commission has no role in the decisions of Euronews as regards staff management or the editorial line", the spokesperson said, adding that the Commission is limited to financing the production of programmes on European affairs and the daily operation of the five language services (Greek, Hungarian, Portuguese, Farsi and Arabic).
The framework of the partnership agreement, which was confirmed by the college of commissioners meeting in Strasbourg, does not engage the budget, which has to be renewed every year by the same college. The 2017 budget was secured at the end of last year, with the college having decided to renew the EU's financial support to Euronews at the same level as in 2016 (€24.7 million). A total of €18 million has now been provided for by the multi-media budget action, and other financing is expected to be added to this.
Ongoing discussions on Euranet. The college of commissioners also reportedly "reiterated its resolve to support the Euranet Plus network" (see EUROPE 11688). But it refuses to give further details. According to EUROPE's sources, discussions are ongoing to find a solution before 7 March, when the second service contract for the European Radio Network expires. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)