EBU Vice President Claudio Cappon has urged Bulgaria’s top politicians to ensure sufficient and sustainable funding for Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

In separate meetings with Bulgaria’s President, Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament, Mr Cappon said that per capita public funding of BNR and BNT, at circa €2.5 and €4 per annum respectively, was far lower than the European average of circa €30. And he warned that any further cuts could prevent the broadcasters from fulfilling their public service remit.

He also stressed the importance of broadcasters being able to plan their spending and investments over the medium to long term, particularly at a time of great technological change. As their funding is allocated from Bulgaria’s budget each year, BNR and BNT do not even know what resources they can expect in 2015. The three-year terms to which the directors general of BNR and BNT are appointed - among the shortest in the EBU membership - are also not conducive to stability or long-term planning, Mr Cappon added.

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski and Speaker of Parliament Mihail Mikov all said they believed that Bulgaria should have a strong public service media sector. They thanked the EBU’s Vice President for his visit and comments, saying – without giving any commitment - that they understood the need for increased funding.

The EBU Vice President offered the EBU’s legal expertise in any revision of the relevant media laws.

Mr Cappon’s visit to Sofia from 25 to 27 March coincided with a workshop organized by the Eurovision Academy to create a school for journalists at BNR. 

Supported by the EBU Partnership Programme, the workshop led by the Academy’s Frédéric Frantz gathered a select group of BNR journalists who will serve as trainers. The participants designed a training curriculum for new and younger BNR staff, and chose the best 12 from 46 candidates to take part in the first course of the new school, which will be held over 19 days until September.

BNR Director General Radoslav Yankulov thanked the EBU for its assistance in building  BNR’s own journalism school. “You have helped to make our dream come true,” he said.

Mr Cappon stressed the importance of the core values adopted by all EBU Members in 2012, and the key role of independent journalism as the heart of public service media.

The Vice President was accompanied to Sofia by David Lewis, Head of Member Relations and Partnership Programme at the EBU.