| Author (Person) | Maurice, Eric |
|---|---|
| Series Title | EUObserver |
| Series Details | 30.12.15 |
| Publication Date | 30/12/2015 |
| Content Type | News |
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The new Polish Law and Justice (PiS) government continued with its rapid reform programme in December 2015 when after forcing through controversial constitutional reforms, the government launched a new parliamentary initiative on the 29 December 2015 to put public media under its control. The lower house of the Polish Parliament (Sejm) passed the bill on the 30 December 2015. Both the European Commission and the OSCE expressed concern at the development. There were also protests in a joint letter from the European Federation of Journalists, the European Broadcasting Union, the Association of European Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, and the Committee to Protect Journalists. 'Freedom and pluralism of the media are crucial for a pluralist society in a member state respectful of the common values on which the union is founded', European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans wrote in a letter to the Polish government. OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović expressed deep concern about the proposed law that would give the Polish government direct control over management positions in the public service broadcasters, Polskie Radio and Telewizja Polska (TVP). The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) wrote to the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda, and to Members of the Polish Senate expressing its dismay at the bill. In a newspaper interview published on the 3 January 2016 European Commissioner for the Digital Economy Günther Oettinger accused Poland of infringing 'common European values' by adopting the legislation. He said 'Many reasons exist for us to activate the ‘Rule of Law mechanism’ and for us to place Warsaw under monitoring'. The issue would be discussed by the European Commission on the 13 January 2016. |
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| Source Link | https://euobserver.com/political/131689 |
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| Countries / Regions | Poland |
