Tangiers - A conference in Morocco has called on governments in the Arab region to introduce laws guaranteeing independence and adequate funding for public broadcasters.

A "Tangiers Declaration" issued after a conference organized by the International Federation of Journalists on 15-17 February said that journalists and their unions had played a key role in the struggle for civil liberties, individual freedom and democracy during the so-called Arab Spring.

The declaration recognized the "vital role" played by independent public service media in creating truly democratic societies, and called on governments "to introduce solid media laws guaranteeing editorial independence and adequate and sustainable funding for public broadcasters".

EBU Head of Member Relations David Lewis presented the core values of public service media, as adopted unanimously at the June 2012 General Assembly by EBU Members, including those in north African countries.  He also noted assistance organized through the EBU Partnership Programme to assist Members in Tunisia and Libya in election coverage, and said the EBU could provide expertise on request to the drafting of appropriate media laws for countries in the region.

He stressed the importance of introducing representative and democratic systems of appointing the governing boards and chief executives of public broadcasters.