03
May 2018
Lvl. 2
State replied
Alert created on: 15 Mar 2016
Romania
Threats to the Independence of the Romanian Public Broadcaster (TVR)
Source of threatState
CategoryOther acts having chilling effects on media freedom
Romanian public broadcaster TVR is facing financial collapse caused by a chaotic management and the government’s decision to freeze the TV tax at the level of 2003 (4 Romanian lei, which is the lowest rate in Europe). A package of proposed amendments to the Romanian Public Broadcaster Law (41/1994), which has been announced by several politicians, will make possible for the TVR to be declared insolvent. The Romanian union of journalists, MediaSind, fears this procedure could legitimise the government’s control on public broadcasting. MediaSind called on Romanian authorities to protect TVR from political interference, including by refraining from imposing restrictions on public broadcasting funding.
Updates
03 May 2018
On 3 May 2018, the Romanian President Klaus Yohannis asked the national Parliament to review its proposed amendments to Article 19 of the Romanian Public Broadcaster Law (no. 41/1994), on ground that they contain unclear provisions.
15 Jan 2018
On 18 December 2017, the Romanian President Klaus Iohannis asked the national Parliament to rewiew its proposed amendments to the Romanian Public Broadcaster Law (41/1994), on ground that they contain unclear provisions which are likely to jeopardise the proper functionsing of the Romanian public broadcaster.
01 Feb 2017
On 6 January 2017, the President of Romania promulgated the bill on the elimination of over 100 non-fiscal taxes, including the radio-TV licence tax. The law entered into force on 1 February 2017.
Additional Information
- Article published on MediaPowerMonitor website: "The Romanian Public Television on the Brink of Insolvency"
- Statement from AEJ: "AEJ concerned about the fate of Romania’s public broadcasting services"
- Statement of MediaSind, the Romanian Union of Journalists (in Romanian): "Insolvenţa instaurează cenzura în TVR! "
State replies
05 Aug 2016
Reply by the Government of Romania
Follow-ups
13 May 2016
The Secretary General writes to the Prime Minister of Romania.
Relevant CoE instruments
Disclaimer
04 Apr 2016
Factsheet on Freedom of Expression and the Broadcasting Media