EU leaders continue to skirt around the issue of the closure of the Greek national broadcaster, ERT, claiming it is a national, and not European issue.
The broadcaster was shut down on 11 June after the government, under pressure from international creditors, agreed to its closure as part of its imposed cutbacks, resulting in the loss of around 2,700 jobs. According to the government, a new, more efficient version of the station will emerge.
During a debate on the situation in the European parliament in Strasbourg today (3 July), senior EU officials dismissed the notion of a European intervention, saying that it was a matter for the Greek government.
Speaking in parliament, Maroš Šefčovič, EU commissioner for inter-institutional relations, said that it is the principle of the European Commission to support the role of public broadcasters across the EU, and the commission will continue to “monitor things.”
He said that any efforts to re-open the broadcaster must have a “more efficient” management than the previous regime. This, he said “was obvious to all observers.” He said that the commission “fully supports the Greek government to support efforts to modernise the public sector.”
Speaking on behalf of the European Council, Vytautas Leškevičius, representing the Lithuanian presidency, said that EU governments have no position on the matter.
“The presidency is fully aware of the concerns,” he told MEPs, adding that “the council hasn't discussed the issue of agreed a position.”
He said that it was “not appropriate” for the council to comment at this time,a nd that it is “an internal matter of the Greek government.”
He said, therefore, that he was “not in a position to make a substantive contribution” to the parliamentary debate.
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