Brussels, 23/03/2006 (Agence Europe) - Following commitments to change the funding system of the Portuguese public service broadcaster RTP, the Commission has decided to close the inquiry into funding of the public service broadcaster. Towards the end of 2003, the Commission issued preliminary requests to several Member States, including Portugal, asking them to review certain aspects of the existing financing systems for their national public broadcasters. In April 2005, the Commission closed its enquiry concerning the French, Italian and Spanish public broadcasters. The Commission and the Portuguese authorities have now agreed on the necessary amendments to ensure that the financing of RTP remains at a minimum strictly necessary for accomplishing its public service mission and from unduly benefiting its commercial activities (thereby avoiding overcompensation and cross-subsidies). Moreover, changes will be introduced to ensure that public and private broadcasters compete on equal terms in commercial markets such as TV advertising. The Commission is pleased with the commitments made by Portugal and formally recommends it implement these measures, as promised, by the end of 2006. Similar investigations are pending as regards the German, Irish and Dutch public broadcasters, explains the Commission.