Public service media organisations from across Central and Eastern Europe have written to the Lithuanian Seimas warning that planned changes to the law governing public broadcaster LRT risk undermining its independence and breaching EU media freedom standards.
In an open letter sent to parliamentary leaders, the government and the president’s office, members of the EBU Central and Eastern Europe Group say proposed amendments to the Law on LRT would weaken governance safeguards and stable financing. On 27 November, the Seimas backed at first reading changes that would allow the Director General to be dismissed by a simple majority of the LRT Council in a secret ballot, removing the requirement to justify dismissal in the public interest. A separate amendment would freeze LRT’s budget at its 2025 level until 2029, with tax-based funding reduced thereafter.
The CEE broadcasters argue the proposals run counter to the EU’s new European Media Freedom Act, which requires that appointment and dismissal procedures for public media leadership protect editorial independence and guard against political interference. They also point to strong domestic criticism: the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, journalists’ organisations and LRT’s own Council have all opposed the changes, while the Seimas Legal Department has warned they conflict with Constitutional Court doctrine. More than 100,000 citizens have signed a petition and a public protest is planned for 9 December.
Describing LRT as one of the region’s most trusted public media brands, the signatories say weakening its protections would damage Lithuania’s democracy and set back media freedom standards across Central and Eastern Europe at a time of rising disinformation and polarisation. They call on MPs to drop the governance amendments, guarantee stable and adequate funding in line with EMFA obligations, and uphold Lithuania’s reputation as a democratic leader. The letter concludes with a declaration of full support for LRT, signed by 27 public service media organisations in the region.
