EU allocates 70 mln € to develop mass media in Eastern Partnership

Riga. 21 May. REPORT.AZ/ 70 million euros were allocated to countries of the Eastern Partnership in the implementation of programs related to the media for the past four years.It is expected that the same amount will be allocated in the coming years.

Report informs, the EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and the negotiations on the expansion of Johannes Hahn, closing the first media conference of the Eastern Partnership countries in Riga.

During the conference, media representatives and experts of the six countries of the program exchanged views on the situation of the media and their role in the region, discussed the challenges faced by media workers.During the conference, proposals were made to establish a network of journalists, improving professionalism of media.

EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and the negotiations on the expansion Johannes Hahn in his speech said that the freedom of the press, lay at the foundation of any democratic successful society, and therefore it is essential to continue to support professional journalism:

"For people it is important to have access to different, high-quality, objective and independent information. Free and independent media is important for the countries of the Eastern Partnership", said J. Hahn.

EU Commissioner also stressed the special role of television, saying that in the Eastern Partnership countries, more than 80% of the population get information from television.