European Union brands Polish media bill 'a negative signal'
European Commision vice-president for values and transparency Vera Jourova slammed Poland's planned new media law on Thursday and called for an EU act to protect press freedom.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 03:36 | 12 August 2021
- Modified Date: 03:36 | 12 August 2021
The European Commission on Thursday criticized a Polish bill limiting foreign ownership of media companies that has been passed by the country's lower house of parliament, saying it sent a negative signal.
"Media pluralism and diversity of opinions are what strong democracies welcome, not fight against," the Vice President of the European Union's executive, Vera Jourova, who is responsible for media freedom, said on Twitter. "The draft Polish broadcasting law sends a negative signal."
On Wednesday, Polish lawmakers passed a bill that would strengthen a ban on firms from outside the European Economic Area controlling Polish broadcasters.
The opposition in Warsaw says the bill aims to gag the news channel TVN24, which is owned by U.S.-based media group Discovery Inc and is critical of the right-wing nationalist government.