The EBU has said it hopes to see a swift resolution to the dispute between the Croatian public broadcaster HRT, one of its members, and the Croatian Journalist Union HND.
In a statement it adds that “strong public service media is essential to healthy democracies and anything that deprives audiences of access to it is damaging to all of society.
“We are concerned by the boycott of HRT organiased by HND and different civil and political organisations which saw HRT excluded from a press event this week.
“We believe that public service broadcasters need to be allowed to carry out their responsibilities freely and without restrictions so that viewers and listeners have ready access to important news and information.
“We welcome public statements by HRT’s DG Kazimir Bacic in favour of a resolution of the current conflict. We also welcome HRT’s reiterated commitment to freedom of expression and to the maintenance of independence in its coverage”.
The EBU concludes by saying: “we hope that the outstanding issues between HRT and HND can be resolved in the days ahead and will be offering our support in the development of an open and constructive dialogue between all the parties involved”.
