"The new draft Polish law on broadcasting concessions is yet another worrying signal for media freedom and pluralism in the country" - Vice President of the European Commission Vera Jourova said on Monday. She referred to a draft legislation put forward by a group of lawmakers from Poland's ruling PiS party, targeting the independence of TVN station.
Last week, a group of Law and Justice (PiS) lawmakers submitted a draft amendment to Poland's Broadcasting Act. The authors of the proposed legislation claim that it aims to "prevent companies based in Poland to be owned by entities from outside the European Economic Area". Commentators agree that the planned changes are targeting the independence of TVN.
TVN24 still waits for the National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) to extend its licence. The KRRiT claims the problem lies in the "ownership situation" of the TVN Group. The group's management said in a statement last week that in 2015 the council approved the entry of American capital into TVN.
Furthermore, TVN underscored that "the ownership structure of the Company complies with the provisions of the Broadcasting Act. It's been confirmed by independent expertises compiled by distinguished Polish law professors".
Finally, the company management pointed out that until they have applied for license extension for the TVN24 channel, "TVN ownership structure raised no concerns whatsoever".
On Monday, the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova commented on the issue .
"The new draft Polish law on broadcasting concessions is yet another worrying signal for media freedom and pluralism in the country" - she said in a tweet.
Vera Jourova added that the EU Commission follows "closely the situation related to TVN24 whose license has not been renewed yet".
"This further makes the case for an EU #MediaFreedomAct" - she stressed.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvn24.pl
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: EU/Lukasz Kobus