Activity Details (ID# 7551)

Activity Synopsis

The general objective of the workshop was to debate the main problems encountered by the Moldovan audiovisual regulatory authority and the broadcasters in implementing the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (ECTT) in Moldova in order to elaborate solutions.The workshop had also one specific objective: to exchange views on a possible strategy for the development of the Moldovan national electronic media market.

 

The workshop was well organised, although the presence of a co-organiser, namely TV5, was announced only the day before the beginning of the activity.
All the participants (70 invited, 40 present on average) received the Romanian version of the ECTT and the Recommendation R (99) 1 on measures to promote media pluralism as well as the Russian translation of the ECTT.

The debates focused on the following issues: the lack of an adequate legal framework for the implementation of the ECTT and other CoE’s standards and the related need to amend (CCA)/radically reform (Electronic Press Association) the existing legislation; the strong presence of foreign channels retransmitted in Moldova (mostly Russian) and the difficulty to develop domestic production and programming due to the narrowness and poverty of the national media and advertising market, the lack of independence and credibility of the CCA, the CCA’s total lack of financial and technical means to monitor the implementation of the ECTT.

Although the problems were thoroughly discussed, no common understanding on possible solutions was found among the participants. The members of CCA present at the workshop expressed the view that as long as conflicts like the recent one between the CCA and the two radio stations Euro TV and Antena C arise, no strategy can be reasonably developed.
 

The current legislation should be brought in line with the ECTT and other CoE’s standards. Two legislative expertises have already been provided by the CoE to the Moldovan authorities (one on the draft amendments to the 1995 Audiovisual Law from the CCA and the second one on the draft Broadcasting Law from APEL). The legislative itinerary of these drafts should be closely followed.
The CCA should be provided with financial and technical means to function properly. Without adequate means any further activity does not appear to be useful, given the practical impossibility to give implementation to the know-how acquired.


 

Members of the Coordination Council for the Audiovisual (CCA), CCA’s personnel, Representatives of the electronic media

 

Ms. Irina BOULIN-GHICA, Adviser to the Director, Media Development Directorate, Office of the Prime Minister, Paris, France
Mr. György OCSKO, Head of the Secretariat of the Presidential Secretariat, National Radio and Television Commission (ORTT), Budapest, Hungary
 

Alessia Sonaglioni, Media Division, Directorate General of Human Rights