GENEVA, June 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomes the confirmation by Greece's highest court - the Council of State - that public service broadcasting in Greece must be put back on air. 

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The ruling reinforces the EBU's belief that every day without a public service broadcaster is a day of weakened democracy. 

The EBU urges all stakeholders to respect the Court decision and to cooperate constructively in its implementation.

EBU President, Jean-Paul Philippot said: "we are impressed by reports that the Government now intends to put a temporary public service broadcasting system in place within a matter of days - hiring a substantial number of temporary staff. This will be a huge task. Therefore we appreciate that the Court will oversee the Government's compliance with the order."

Mr Philippot continued: "Even an interim body needs governance that ensures independence - management selected according to agreed procedures, and staff appointed on merit and not by patronage. And even an interim channel needs to meet public expectation by respecting the principles of pluralistic information, and a public sphere for debate, in line with the Core Public Service Media Values. Now is the time to lay the foundations of the future remit, funding and governance of a sustainable public service broadcaster with integrity."

The EBU recognises the importance of change.  "All public service media organisations need to increase their efficiency and adapt to evolving financial, technological and political realities and public expectations," Mr Philippot said. "The public's relationship with PSM is changing: so, too, must the broadcaster be ready to adapt."

The EBU stands ready to lend its expertise during the transitional phase and even more, in during the establishment of the permanent public service broadcaster in Greece.

Notes to editors

• ERT was not financed from the government budget
• ERT was funded mainly by a modest licence fee (4.25 Euros per month) paid directly by citizens, and advertising 
• ERT ended 2012 with a 50m Euro surplus

For further information, please contact:
Michelle Roverelli
Head of Communications
T +41(0)22-717-2204
M +41(0)79-647-1724
roverelli@ebu.ch

SOURCE European Broadcasting Union (EBU)