South East European public broadcasters sign training protocol in Sarajevo

From left to right: : Josip Popovac, Hido Biscevic, Mehmed Agovic

Sarajevo - The directors general of EBU Members in South East Europe signed  a protocol on cooperation in education and training at meeting in the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The event was organized by Radio-Television Bosnia-Herzegovina (BHRT), the Association of Public Service Media in South East Europe (PSM in SEE) and the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC; successor to the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe). The EBU was represented at the signing by Executive Board member Marija Nemcic of Croatian Radio-Television (HRT).

HRT Director General Josip Popovac, President of the Association, said the protocol showed the commitment of the region's public media to fulfilling their missions. "The support of the RCC, the European Commission and the EBU in this respect is extremely valuable," he added.

Objectives listed in the Protocol include raising the quality, efficiency and editorial independence of public service media; fostering  diversity and respect for all layers of society; identifying best practices and innovation; and pursuing joint initiatives to make public service media more competitive.

Mehmed Agovic, Director General of BHRT, said the Protocol was an extremely important step towards strengthening the mission and credibility of the public service media in South East Europe.

The Association of PSM in SEE was founded at a meeting in Croatia on 26-27 November 2011 which was attended by the directors general of HRT, BHRT, RTSH (Albania), BNR (Bulgaria), MKRTV (FYR Macedonia), RTCG (Montenegro), RTS (Serbia), RTV Vojvodina (Serbia), and RTVSLO (Slovenia). TRT (Turkey) was also represented.

The full text of the Protocol is available here.

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)