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Week ending June 19, 2010

EBU calls for re-think of drastic cut in Croatian licence fee - June 14, 2010
from Katie De Noel/EBU

The European Broadcasting Union has called on Croatia to re-consider a decision to cut the licence fee of its public broadcaster, HRT, by one quarter from 1 August.

In a letter to Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said that such a drastic reduction would do irretrievable damage to HRT at a time when Croatia was finalising negotiations to join the European Union.

"As has been repeatedly stressed by the Council of Europe, and by the institutions of the EU which Croatia is so eager to join, independent and sustainably-funded public service broadcasters are vital to European societies and democracy," Ms Deltenre said. "On behalf of all the community of public service broadcasters in the European Broadcasting Union, I ask you urgently to reconsider your position."

The licence fee accounted for nearly 80% of HRT's income last year.

Ms Deltenre said HRT was one of the most successful public service broadcasters in eastern Europe, and that it would be wrong to impose such a heavy cut in funding to an organization that was serving its country well. "There would be a drastic reduction in the volume and quality of every genre of programming - from news and current affairs to drama, cultural, entertainment, religion and sport," she said.

The economic crisis must not be used or allowed to undermine HRT's ability to fulfil its missions to provide critical political and economic coverage, pluralistic information, and programmes that address issues of relevance to all citizens in a diverse society, Ms Deltenre added. She noted that, as a former HRT journalist herself, Prime Minister Kosor would appreciate how serious would be the consequences of the licence fee cut proposed.