EBU Director General Noel Curran has visited Bulgaria to discuss the importance of public service media in the region.

Curran was in Sofia for a meeting of South East Europe Public Service Media (PSM), organized by Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).

The meeting brought together 13 public broadcasters from across South East Europe to look at the role and importance of PSM at a time of intensive social and technological change. The group reflected Bulgaria's priorities as presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

Participants discussed strategic issues relating to the independence, funding and mission of PSM in the context of the region's common European perspective.

The meeting concluded with a declaration on the importance of PSM for the promotion and reinforcement of democracy and European values, signed by all the participants.

BNT Director General Konstantin Kamenarov said: "It is our responsibility and our duty to make public service media in Bulgaria respected by the audience."

BNR Director General Alexander Velev added: "Today's deposits are paid tomorrow. Clear funding rules are therefore needed. And trust in public media. Because the fight against fake news can only be handled by public media."

Curran also met with the Bulgarian President, Rumen Radev, alongside Kamenarov and Velev, to discuss the developments in the industry.

He said: "We had a very positive discussion with President Radev about the changes taking place in the media sector, including information control and the international threats to public service media."

The next meeting of the group will be hosted by ERT in Thesaloniki in September this year.