site.btaEuropean Economic and Social Committee President Highlights Need for Increased Support for Free Media in EU

Free media outlets in EU Member States need more financial support, European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) President Oliver Ropke said in Brussels on Wednesday. He was responding to a question from the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) during a media briefing at the Civil Society Week, which is running from March 17 to 20. This year's edition of the week is being held under the theme Strengthening cohesion and participation in polarized societies.

Ropke stressed the importance of increasing financial resources for free media, bolstering public service media in EU Member States, and taking firm action against violations of media freedom. He cited Hungary as an example, where, in his words, media is so concentrated in the hands of a few that censorship is not even necessary. A market mechanism is effectively stifling free media, he noted.

While he acknowledged that EU-level regulations are a step in the right direction, the EESC President emphasized the need for proper implementation. He also highlighted that they will collaborate with journalists, trade unions, and civil society organizations to ensure these new rules have a real impact and will work to strengthen them if necessary.

The EESC organized several events last year to combat disinformation, said Laurentiu Plosceanu, the EESC Vice-President responsible for Communication. These events started in Sofia and were also held in Chisinau and Athens, with a seminar in Lisbon coming soon, he added. Plosceanu said that they are working on a handbook for national Economic and Social Councils, aimed at helping people get information from reliable sources. He noted that it recently transpired that two-thirds of Polish citizens get their news not from national media, but from social media. This suggests that people in Poland are trying to stay closer to the original sources of information, Plosceanu said.

During the discussion, Ropke said that the EESC had held campaigns on fighting disinformation in Moldova. He added that their mission had extended beyond the capital, Chisinau, including Gagauzia, where they were helping to counter Russian disinformation.

When institutions fail and democracy is at risk, institutions can no longer protect the constitutional order. “This sends a clear signal that we need to strengthen our institutions, including those for social dialogue,“ Ropke said. 

In response to a question from BTA about how European civil society could support people in Moldova and Ukraine in their fight against disinformation, Plosceanu said it is challenging for the peoples of both countries, which have large Bulgarian, Romanian, and other ethnic communities. He added that sensitivities around religion and social media control are heightened in these regions.