Former President of Poland Lech Wałęsa paid a special visit (9 April) to the 50th EBU Executive Board meeting in Gdańsk. The iconic politician, human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner joined the EBU's board members and directors for a breakfast meeting.

Mr Wałęsa was elected as the second prime minister of Poland after the fall of communism in 1989. Co-founder of the Soviet bloc's first trade union, known as Solidarity, his leadership was instrumental in the movement that eventually led to the fall of the Berlin Wall.  

During the gathering, Mr Wałęsa reminded the EBU delegates how crucial the media were in making the revolution happen, and highlighted how important it is that every single person contribute to making the world better. 

Following this, EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre spoke to Polish TV and radio, reiterating the importance of public service media in times of upheaval.

"Fair and independent reporting becomes even more important in difficult times, as we've learned from history and the Polish Solidarity movement. Europe's public service media are committed to making sure citizens are well informed and able to make decisions based on a clear picture of what is happening. We urge governments to remember this in the present day, particularly with regards to the situation in Ukraine."

The EBU delegation was received in Gdańsk at the kind invitation of Member broadcaster Polskie Radio and Polskie Radio President Andrzej Siezieniewski.