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Week ending April 23, 2016

EBU withdraws member services from Televiziunea Romana - April 22, 2016
from Michelle Roverelli/EBU

The EBU has withdrawn member services from Romanian public service broadcaster Televiziunea Romana (TVR) following the non-payment of debts totalling CHF 16 million.

TVR will now no longer be able to participate in the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and will lose access to other EBU member services including the Eurovision News and Sports News Exchanges, the right to broadcast specific sporting events, legal, technical and research expertise and lobbying services.

The decision was made after a deadline given to the Romanian government to make satisfactory arrangements to repay the debt expired.

EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre said: “It is regrettable that we are forced to take this action. We are disappointed that all our attempts to resolve this matter have received no response from the Romanian government. In recent weeks the EBU has taken note of the Ministry of Finance’s suggestion that TVR may be placed into insolvency proceedings which may in turn lead to a profound restructuring of the broadcaster. The EBU is a not-for-profit association which represents 73 Public Service Broadcasters in 56 countries. The continued indebtedness of TVR jeopardizes the financial stability of the EBU itself.”

The EBU regards the Romanian State as legally obliged to underwrite TVR’s debt which goes back as far as January 2007.

Since 2010 numerous attempts have been made to restructure the debt owed and payment plans agreed that have not been adhered to. The EBU has written to the Romanian government on four separate occasions this year alone and received no reply.

In a final letter to the Finance Minister of Romania Anca Dragu sent on 15 April the EBU requested a down payment of CHF 10 million to be received in the EBU´s bank account by close of business on Wednesday 20 April 2016. The Union also asked to receive an unconditional and irrevocable bank guarantee for the remaining CHF 6 million, supported by a payment plan by the end of the year.

The deadline was extended until Thursday 21 April but no payment was made.

The EBU has in recent years repeatedly campaigned for a sustainable funding model for TVR and has held several meetings with high level representatives of the State including the Councillor of the President, the Minister of Finance, and Minister of Culture. During these meetings the EBU consistently promoted the value of having a truly independent public service media in Romania that ensures pluralism and contributes to an informed citizenship and the cohesion of the country.

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