Ref. Ares(2021)4477600 - 09/07/2021 EUROPEAN COMMISSION Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology Media Policy Audiovisual Industry and Media Support Programmes Brussels, Dear members of the International Advisory board of the Balkan Free Media Initiative, Thank you for your letters of 3 and 17 June regarding the launch of two Euronews-branded franchises in Bulgaria and Serbia, addressed to Vice-presidents Jourova and Vestager and Commissioner Breton. I am replying on their behalf. Since 2010, the Commission has concluded successive Framework Partnership Agreements with Euronews, through which it supports the production and dissemination of European programmes, as well as the production of Euronews in several European and non-European languages. The proposed franchises are not part of the agreements between Euronews and the Commission. This support is provided in full respect of Euronews’ editorial independence, business strategy or staff matters. At the same time, pursuant to the provisions of the Framework Partnership Agreement, the company must abide by high editorial standards, ensure robust internal editorial arrangements and checks by external independent bodies. Thus, Euronews’ editorial content is regularly assessed by Euronews’ editorial board and an external institute, the Osservatorio di Pavia. Euronews publishes, on an annual basis, a transparency report1. In addition, the Commission has commissioned external independent evaluations and performance audits which, to date, have showed positive results regarding Euronews’ editorial mechanism and oversights. The Commission has just renewed its cooperation with Euronews until 2024. In this context, Euronews has informed the Commission about its intentions to develop affiliated partnerships in new countries, with content being produced in local languages. The newly launched franchises in Serbia and Bulgaria are part of this strategy, which could have the potential to increase citizens’ access to diverse European news in their native languages, as long as Euronews retains active editorial oversights over it. As part of agreements signed with local partners, Euronews has informed us that it grants franchised entities the right to produce and broadcast its content and provides them with technical and editorial support to launch and operate the local channel. Euronews retains different editorial controls: it hires the editorial director and sets the editorial board. The local partner must respect Euronews’ editorial charter and, in case of breach or bad editorial practices, Euronews can withdraw the usage of its brand. 1 https://static.euronews.com/website/pdf/euronews-transparency-report-2020.pdf Sent by email to [email protected] Commission européenne/Europese Commissie, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË - Tel. +32 22991111 Office: BU25 05/130 - Tel. direct line +32 229-91281 [email protected] To date, we have no evidence of any breach of these editorial principles. Please rest assured that while the Commission has no contractual relations with the franchises established by Euronews in Bulgaria and Serbia, it will follow closely any developments that could impinge editorial independence. Please also note that your concerns about the local partnerships in Serbia and Bulgaria have been shared with the company. Yours sincerely, [e-signed] Lucia Recalde Head of Unit 2 Electronically signed on 09/07/2021 16:16 (UTC+02) in accordance with article 11 of Commission Decision C(2020) 4482
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