The Committee on European Integration held a Round Table Discussion on Implementation of the Provisions concerning Media of the Resolutions on Ukraine of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament

The meeting was organized jointly with the International Non-Governmental Organization "European Media Platform." People´s Deputies of Ukraine, members of the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting, state bodies, media, and international organizations attended the round table discussion.  

The participants of the meeting discussed the general state of affairs in mass media in the light of the latest resolutions of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. They focused on the observance of democratic standards in the Ukrainian media.

Committee Chairman B.Tarasiuk stated that PACE Resolution 1755 (2010) "The functioning of democratic institutions in Ukraine" of October 5, 2010 and Resolution of the European Parliament on Ukraine of November 25, 2010 assessed the current state of freedom of speech and information in Ukraine.  

Thus, PACE Resolution 1755 (2010) "The functioning of democratic institutions in Ukraine" reads: "The Assembly expresses its concern about the increasing number of credible reports of undue involvement by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in domestic political affairs, including pressure put on journalists and party and civil society activists and their relatives. It considers such activities unacceptable in a democratic society and therefore calls upon the authorities to reform the security services and their functions in line with European standards."

The Resolution declares that an increased respect for democratic freedoms and rights has been one of the main achievements in Ukraine´s democratic development in recent years. Any regression in the respect for and protection of these rights would be unacceptable for the Assembly.

Moreover, the Assembly "considers that the interference of state organs, such as the law enforcement and security services, in the work of journalists and media organisations is incompatible with a democratic society. The Assembly calls upon the authorities to fully investigate all reports of infringements of rights and freedoms and to remedy any violations found. In addition, it calls upon the authorities to ensure that legal proceedings do not result in the selective revocation of broadcasting frequencies and to review any decision or appointment that could lead to a conflict of interest, especially in the field of law enforcement and the judiciary."

In the Resolution on Ukraine of November 25, 2010, the European Parliament emphasises that, pursuant to Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union, Ukraine may apply for membership of the EU like any European state that adheres to the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

In this Resolution, the European Parliament is concerned at recent developments that could undermine media freedom and pluralism; calls on the authorities to take all necessary measures to protect these essential aspects of a democratic society and to refrain from any attempt to control, directly or indirectly, the content of reporting in the national media; stresses the urgent need for a reform of the laws governing the media sector and therefore welcomes a recent proposal to introduce Public Service Broadcasting in Ukraine; also welcomes the public assurances given by the Ukrainian authorities that the legal framework needed to establish a public service broadcaster will be concluded by the end of the year; deplores the fact that two independent TV stations, TVi and TV5, have been deprived of some of their broadcasting frequencies; calls on the authorities to ensure that legal proceedings do not result in the selective revocation of broadcasting frequencies and to review any decision or appointment that could lead to a conflict of interest; calls on the Ukrainian Government to bring the legislation on media freedom into line with OSCE standards; decisive action in this regard would strengthen Ukraine's credibility as OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office for 2013.

During the round table discussion, Iryna Herashchenko, Head of the Interim Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate Censorship in Mass Media, Restriction of Freedom of Speech in Ukraine and Interference with the Professional Activity of the Journalists, suggested that the Prosecution General of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine should report on the investigation of case on missing journalist Vasyl Klymentiev, and other high-profile cases related to the protection of journalists´ rights.

Together with the subject committee, the Interim Inquiry Panel is going to hold a special off-site meeting in Kharkiv to study the state of the freedom of speech in this region.  

The bill "On Amendments to the Electoral Legislation concerning Moratorium on the Check-Ups of Media during the Elections" has been drafted and submitted based on the results of the Panel´s work.

The participants of the round table discussion also debated other issues connected with the implementation of the provisions on media of the Resolutions on Ukraine of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.