29 April 2015 / By OSCE.org

The decision to reopen public service broadcaster ERT is a long awaited and important step to protect media pluralism in Greece, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said today.

”The decision of the Greek Parliament to reopen ERT is of great importance and I warmly welcome it”, Mijatović said. ”Public service media play an indispensable role in democracies with providing pluralistic and objective information to the citizens.”

On 28 April, following a two-day debate, the Greek Parliament adopted a law that authorizes the reopening of ERT, set for 11 June. The broadcaster was shut down overnight almost two years ago, without consultations with the stakeholders. The closure resulted in the immediate dismissal of about three thousand employees.

”I trust that the new law will ensure that ERT can function as an editorially and financially independent public service broadcaster,”Mijatović said. “It will be an essential source of information, education and entertainment to the public that can further increase media pluralism in Greece.”

The Representative’s statement on the closure of ERT in 2013 is available atwww.osce.org/fom/102624.

Mijatović is in Aachen for the Médaille Charlemagne award ceremony.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more atwww.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.

Source: http://www.osce.org/fom/154301