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EU commissioner warns Poland on new media law: report



BRUSSELS: -- EU Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on Sunday threatened to put Poland on notice for infringing on common European values by passing legislation giving the government control of the state media.

The move would start a series of steps that, if the law remains in place, could eventually see Warsaw lose its voting rights at the European Council, the organisation that groups the leaders of all 28 EU nations.

In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) newspaper, Oettinger, who is commissioner for the digital economy and society, warned: “Many reasons exist for us to activate the ‘Rule of Law mechanism’ and for us to place Warsaw under monitoring.”

His remarks come after Poland’s conservative government on Wednesday took control of state media after new legislation was passed giving it the power to directly appoint the heads of public broadcasters, despite EU concern and condemnation from rights watchdogs.

According to FAZ, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has placed the issue on the agenda of the commission’s next meeting on January 13.

The newspaper reported that Juncker was seeking to start a procedure in place since 2014 to protect against “systemic dangers to the rule of law”.

Under that procedure, if the country in question does not accept changes to proposals put forward by the commission, the commission can initiate a “procedure over the violation of fundamental European values”, FAZ said.

Though the procedure has not yet been initiated, the potential sanctions could include “the withdrawal of voting rights” for the country in question, according to FAZ.

Oettinger plans to call for the procedure to be initiated against Poland, FAZ wrote, citing him as saying: “A director [of public radio or television] cannot be dismissed without cause. It would be arbitrary.”

Under the new law, senior figures in public radio and television will in future be appointed — and sacked — by the treasury minister, and no longer through contests by the National Broadcasting Council.

The new legislation will also see the current managers and supervisory board members of Poland’s public broadcasters fired with immediate effect.

It has been met with sharp criticism from media rights organisations including Reporters Without Borders, the European Broadcasting Union and the Association of European Journalists.

AFP


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-04

[Usernames]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

[sirineou]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

[stevenl]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

He just wants to criticise the EU, no matter what. And reading is not required for that.

[Norvid 1950]

To limit all bad influence from dictatorial EU under the so called multiculturalism, Poland needs to gain control of the country. Islamization as happens in EU is not for Poland as is trying to block all who doesn't belong to Greek-Roman's culture. Maybe Sweden, Germany, France like to be threatened by Islamic extremism, Poland does not. Strong rule of law, Polish and not EU law needs to be introduced and all EU crap thrown away. Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and others do not want those Muslims let into their countries. Why should EU do that in the first place? Merkel's diktat might soon be over. By the way she was in German Democratic Republic (Soviet run East Germany after the war) head of intelligence of youth organization. responsible for indoctrination of all youth. Nice eh?

[Mr Moo]

Poland should leave the EU and show a middle finger to the BS rules and regulations coming out of Brussels

[stevenl]

To limit all bad influence from dictatorial EU under the so called multiculturalism, Poland needs to gain control of the country. Islamization as happens in EU is not for Poland as is trying to block all who doesn't belong to Greek-Roman's culture. Maybe Sweden, Germany, France like to be threatened by Islamic extremism, Poland does not. Strong rule of law, Polish and not EU law needs to be introduced and all EU crap thrown away. Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and others do not want those Muslims let into their countries. Why should EU do that in the first place? Merkel's diktat might soon be over. By the way she was in German Democratic Republic (Soviet run East Germany after the war) head of intelligence of youth organization. responsible for indoctrination of all youth. Nice eh?

If Poland wants to regain control it can do so within EU regulations. If it can not do that, too bad, leave the EU.

[oneday]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

You can't be serious. You really believe a government should be in charge of the media. This is going down a road that will lead to a communist government and total loss of freedoms for all citizens in Poland. I think the EU should eject them from the EU if this is the road the current Polish government wants to take.

[stevenl]

Poland should leave the EU and show a middle finger to the BS rules and regulations coming out of Brussels

Many Poles, living in other EU countries now, would not be happy with that.

[billd766]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

I believe that it is the right of every independent country to make and enforce its own laws and NOT to have other countries or the EU foisting laws upon them.

Edited January 4, 2016 by billd766

[sirineou]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

I believe that it is the right of every independent country to make and enforce its own laws and NOT to have other countries or the EU foisting laws upon them.

Then they should leave the EU and be independent.

[elgordo38]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

Many governments will be watching this play out. Poland went extremely right on the last election and now the right wants to act in the same way China and another country near and dear to our hearts wants to proceed. Control of the media has already taken place in the West by stealth. About 6 entities control most of the Western media now. Stealth is one thing blatant action well another. Being sneaky is the name of the game today.

[DeaconJohn]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

He just wants to criticise the EU, no matter what. And reading is not required for that.

...and - in this case at least - neither is comprehension.

[RickBradford]

EU Commissioner Gunther Oettinger on Sunday threatened to put Poland on notice for infringing on common European values by passing legislation giving the government control of the state media.

Well, they can put the UK on notice as well for its handling of the state broadcaster BBC, since the appointment of all the BBC Trustees is made by the Government, and the BBC Trustees then appoint all the senior executives.

BBC Trustees are appointed by the Queen on advice from DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) ministers through the Prime Minister. - BBC website

[billd766]

So, now the EU wants to dictate how countries hire and fire the people working in radio and TV.

No actually the opposite, didn't you read the OP?

The EU does not want the government to control the media,Don't you agree with them? or do you think a goverment controlled media is a good thing.

I believe that it is the right of every independent country to make and enforce its own laws and NOT to have other countries or the EU foisting laws upon them.

Then they should leave the EU and be independent.

I think that in time they will along with the UK and perhaps 1 or 2 other countries at which point the EU as it stands will breakup.

When it was the Common Market it was not so bad, the ECC came along and it got bigger and messier and now with 28 member states, 508 million people and 4,324,782 sq/km it is too big, too unwieldy, too many different languages, too many disparate states, some rich, most poor it just doesn't work properly any more.

[happy Joe]

As in all fields the EU wants only one power: Money