OSCE calls on Ukrainian government not to cut budget of UA:PBC

01.04.2020 09:21

Ukrinform

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, has called on the Ukrainian government not to cut the funding of the National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC).

The relevant statement has been posted on the OSCE website on March 31.

“I call on the Ukrainian authorities to urgently explore and find effective solutions to preserve the budget of UA:PBC and the mission of the public service broadcaster,” Désir said.

He noted that in the current Covid-19 crisis, the public service broadcaster “has an indispensable role to play in providing reliable information to the population, reporting on the pandemic and combating false information.”

“This is not the time to risk the economic sustainability of public service media,” concluded the Representative,” he said.

As reported, the National Public Broadcasting Company called on the Cabinet of Ministers not to cut its budget by UAH 480 million as foreseen in amendments to the state budget.

In particular, the funding of the National Public Broadcasting Company was projected at UAH 1.712 billion in 2020. The reduction of the UA:PBC funding by almost UAH 480 million, as well the repayment by the broadcasting company of the state debt to Euronews in the amount of almost 350 million would cut the funding by UAH 830 million.