📋 Tender Overview
In response to the recent parliamentary approval of a draft bill that excludes companies from outside of the European Economic Area EEA to hold broadcasting licenses in Poland the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro today reiterated her concern for its wider implications for media freedom and called on President Andrzej Duda to veto it.On 18 December in its final session of the year Polands parliament voted to overturn a Senate the upper house of parliament veto of a previously shelved and heavily contested media reform bill.The potential impact of this amendment is palpable as it would affect Polands largest private television news channel TVN24 known for its critical coverage Ribeiro said thus harming media pluralism in the country. The Representative wrote to Polish President Duda who must decide whether the bill will become a law. Ribeiro urged him to consider the implications this law would have on media freedom in the country. It is crucial that Polands legal framework safeguards editorial political and financial independence of the media she wrote.The Representative wrote to the authorities in August this year when the lower house of Parliament the Sejm approved the draft bill. I have taken note of the many concerns raised by journalists civil society international media freedom organizations and other OSCE participating States. Let me also recall that the OSCE participating States in their Document of the Eleventh Meeting of the Ministerial Council recognized that a free and pluralistic media which enjoy maximum editorial independence from political and financial pressure have an important role to play in ensuring transparency in public affairs she wrote.The bill aims to limit foreign ownership of media companies through an amendment to Article 35 of the Broadcasting Act. This would bar companies that are majority-owned by entities from outside the EEA from owning more than a 49 stake in Polish media to be able to hold broadcasting licenses. It would also remove a clause stipulating that a broadcaster can be granted a licence if the headquarters of its direct shareholder is in the EEA.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 at www.osce.orgfom Twitter @OSCERFoM and on www.facebook.comosce.rfom.
