The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) welcomes yesterday's confirmation by Greece’s highest court – the Council of State – that public service broadcasting in Greece must be put back on air. 

The ruling reinforces the EBU's belief that every day without a public service broadcaster is a day of weakened democracy. 

The EBU urges all stakeholders to respect the Court decision and to cooperate constructively in its implementation.

EBU President, Jean-Paul Philippot said: "We are impressed by reports that the Government now intends to put a temporary public service broadcasting system in place within a matter of days – hiring a substantial number of temporary staff. This will be a huge task. Therefore we appreciate that the Court will oversee the Government's compliance with the order."

Mr Philippot continued: “Even an interim body needs governance that ensures independence – management selected according to agreed procedures, and staff appointed on merit and not by patronage. And even an interim channel needs to meet public expectation by respecting the principles of pluralistic information, and a public sphere for debate, in line with the Core Public Service Media Values. Now is the time to lay the foundations of the future remit, funding and governance of a sustainable public service broadcaster with integrity."

The EBU recognises the importance of change.  “All public service media organisations need to increase their efficiency and adapt to evolving financial, technological and political realities and public expectations," Mr Philippot said. "The public's relationship with PSM is changing: so, too, must the broadcaster be ready to adapt.”

The EBU stands ready to lend its expertise during the transitional phase and even more, in during the establishment of the permanent public service broadcaster in Greece.

About the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

The EBU is the world's foremost alliance of public service media organizations, with Members in 56 countries in Europe and beyond.

The EBU's mission is to defend the interests of public service media and to promote their indispensable contribution to modern society. It is the point of reference for industry knowledge and expertise.

The EBU operates Eurovision and Euroradio.

Eurovision is the media industry's premier distributor and producer of top quality live sport and news, as well as entertainment, culture and music content.

Euroradio enhances public service radio through the exchange of music, professional networking and the promotion of digital and hybrid radio – to ensure radio remains a key protagonist in a multimedia world.

The Eurovision/Euroradio satellite and fibre network is the largest and most reliable in the world directly plugged in to public service media everywhere.

web: www.ebu.ch - twitter: @EBU_Eurovision  @Euroradio_EBU