Bipartisan group of U.S. senators warns Polish gov't against planned media law reform

Authors of a bill, put forward by a group of PiS MPs on July 7, argue that it aims at "clarifying regulations enabling the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) to effectively counteract the possibility of radio and television broadcasters to be taken over by any entities from outside the European Union, including entities from countries posing an immediate threat to state security".

Commentators and experts agree that the planned changes are meant to target TVN. TVN24 channel is still waiting for the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) to extend its licence. The current one expires on September 26. The station filed for an extension in February 2020.

The KRRiT claims the problem lies in the "ownership situation" of the TVN Group. The company said in a statement that in 2015 the council had approved entry of American capital into TVN.

Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat - New Hampshire) on Wednesday issued a joint statement with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Democrat - Illinois) and U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (Democrat - Connecticut), Chris Coons (Democrat - Deleware), Helsinki Commission Chairman Ben Cardin (Democrat - Maryland) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (Republican - Idaho), regarding "legislation being considered by Poland’s parliament that would infringe on a free, independent media and jeopardize U.S. media investments in Poland".

"The Polish government’s continued democratic backsliding, most recently through efforts designed to undermine independent media and one of the largest U.S. investments in the country, is deeply concerning. As a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators, we want to make clear to the Polish government that we are watching these events carefully. We are monitoring legislation under consideration in the Polish parliament that, if passed and signed into law, would discriminate against non-EU companies and likely force out of Poland a major U.S. investor employing several thousand people. This legislation, coupled with Poland’s refusal to renew the license for the firm TVN, continues a troubling trajectory for Poland’s democracy. This is not the way to attract foreign investments and would further undermine media freedoms for which Poles have long fought," the bipartisan group of senators stressed.

"These and other steps, which Poland — a NATO ally and close friend and partner of the United States — has recently taken, do not reflect the shared values that underpin our bilateral relationship. Any decision to implement these laws could have negative implications for defense, business and trade relations. We urge the Polish government to pause before acting on any measure that would impact our longstanding relationship," U.S. senators said in a joint statement.