Representatives from the EBU and the European Federation of Journalists met with members of the European Parliament in Brussels this month to discuss the challenge of transforming public service media (PSM) in Central and Eastern Europe.

Over two days, they met with the Vice President of the European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek, MEPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee who look after the Enlargement Progress Reports and members of the working group for the Western Balkans.

The EBU is providing comprehensive strategic, legal, professional and technical support to public broadcasters in the process of transformation. A lot has been achieved, but this is a challenging and long term process, which requires strategic, coherent and long term assistance.

All those present at the meetings agreed on the importance of PSM for reinforcing democracy, espectially during such turbulent times in Europe, and they acknowledged the need for strong European Commission support for the transformation of public broadcasters in the EU accession countries.