Brussels concerned over Polish media bill and impact on press freedom

Concerns over a Polish law critics say is aimed at silencing a government-run news television station that criticizes the government. European Commission.

The said bill according to Commission poses serious risks to media freedom and pluralism.

The legislation, which passed unexpectedly and hastily by parliament on Friday (17/12), will tighten rules on foreign media ownership, specifically affecting the operation of the US-owned news channel TVN24. Discovery Inc. Update

EU Representative: We are following developments with concern

“We are following the latest developments with concern,” a European Commission spokesman told a news conference in Brussels.

The Commission expects EU Member States to ensure that their policies and laws do not undermine their commitment to a free, independent and diverse sector. media, he said.

The bill, which has not yet been signed into law by President Andrei Duda, has strained relations between Poland, a NATO member state and the United States at a time of heightened tension in Eastern Europe.

The European Commission has stated that it will closely monitor developments in Poland, as the law may lead to forced changes in the ownership structure of media companies.

“The vote, which took place on Friday, puts further pressure on the media in Poland.” It could lead to restrictions on media freedom in Poland, where the media landscape is already suffering from growing politicizationSaid a spokesman for the commission, noting that protests had taken place across Poland over the weekend against the bill.

The ruling nationalist Polish Law and Justice Party (PiS) has long argued that foreign media outlets have too much power in the country and distort public debate.

Critics say the moves against foreign media groups are part of an increasingly authoritarian agenda that has brought Warsaw and Brussels into dispute over LGBTQ rights and judicial reform.

You may also like

Glassnode: Bitcoin reached a critical point
Top News
David

Glassnode: Bitcoin reached a critical point

Glassnode analytical platform experts reported that the Bitcoin market has reached a critical point, which determines the direction of movement