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Greek government deprives its citizens of a universal public broadcasting service. ERT workers continue broadcasting nonetheless. UNI Europa calls upon the authorities to reverse the shutdown.

The UNI Europa Management Committee at its meeting on 18 October 2013 unanimously adopted the Statement: ‘Public Service Broadcasting in Greece’.

Since 11 June, after it attempted to shut down ERT, the Greek government deprives Greek citizens of a universal and independent public broadcasting service. Since then ERT staff supported by their unions continue to produce a 24 hour programming for TV, radio and the Internet under very difficult circumstances and with the objective to preserve independent public service broadcasting in Greece. To provide the best access to Greek citizen possible, the unions and workers currently finance the transmission of the programmes via satellite after the EBU cut the satellite feed on 21 August. UNI Europa applauds the courage and resilience of our colleagues who defend the public media service values, media pluralism and democracy in Greece.

UNI Europa calls on affiliates, sister organisations and all those who stand for public media service values to support the efforts of the Greek public service broadcasting workers. We urge the EBU to reconsider its decision of 21 August and work in dialogue with all parties concerned in order to facilitate re-establishing true public service broadcasting in Greece.

UNI Europa stresses that today there is no sufficient guarantee that the interim service (DT), set-up by the government, will be editorially independent and that the news bulleting as well as the entire programming will satisfy public service media values.

UNI Europa calls on the Greek government to reverse the incomprehensible and dangerous decision to shut down ERT and to take up the proposals of the workers and their unions at ERT regarding the reform of ERT.

UNI Europa and its affiliates remain committed to contribute to preserve and cherish public service broadcasting in Greece and seek to continue the dialogue with the Greek authorities, the EBU and the European Institutions.