European Commission responds but gives no answers on Euronews partners

In an open letter to the European Commission sent last month, the BFMI expressed its concerns about the franchise deal of the Euronews brand with dubious partners in Serbia and Bulgaria.  

We were not alone. Local NGOs and journalists have also shared their concerns in petitions and media reports.

BFMI raised questions about the integrity of media partners in the Balkan countries, asking the European Commission – which has provided Euronews with more than €100 million in funding – if it is appropriate to spend taxpayers money legitimising local companies that threaten media freedom in the Balkans with the Euronews brand.

In its notorious non-committal language, the Commission responded, shifting all responsibility for the decisions to Euronews. The letter also admitted that the Commission has just renewed its financial support for Euronews until 2024.

The Commission ignored the most critical question raised by BFMI:  how can it allow Euronews to partner in the Balkans with alleged arms dealers and authoritarians responsible for the deteriorating media environments in these countries?

The European Commission claims to protect the rule of law and media freedom, but turns the other way when faced with a clear threat to those standards in the Balkans.

This position is unacceptable, and so the BFMI has responded today to call on the Commission to immediately investigate these two new franchising deals. 

If it is found that there is any risk at all that Euronews Serbia or Euronews Bulgaria might undermine media freedoms in the respective countries, the European Commission should publicly acknowledge this and insist that Euronews finds suitable, objective partners. If that fails, the European Commission should rescind its funding of Euronews.

The Commission has absolutely no place legitimising media companies which actively undermine media freedom in a region where those freedoms are already so vulnerable. This is an issue that cannot be swept away with empty words.

To view the entire letter from the European Commission click here.

To view BFMI’s response calling for further action click here.