The EBU and the European Commission are due to sign a partnership agreement on July 18, unlocking European Union (EU) funding for EPP activities aimed at strengthening PSM in countries seeking to join the EU. An estimated EUR 500,000 of European funding is expected to be released in a first tranche of financial support. A similar agreement is expected to be signed at a later date for work by the EBU in countries neighbouring the EU to the East and South.

The Agreement aims to:

• safeguard and promote freedom of expression and the media in the EU and beyond
• contribute to democratic development in the would-be EU member states
• promote non-discrimination and democratic governance by combining efforts on advocacy, technical work and institution-wide coordination
• push through the transition of national broadcasters to become true public service media
• enable these broadcasters to play a pivotal role in their societies for freedom of expression and the media, for democracy and growth, and for mutual understanding, inclusion and diversity

In this video message to the EBU's General Assembly, on June 21, EU Enlargement & Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner Štefan Füle explains why the EBU's work in enlargement and neighbourhood countries is so important, and why the European Commission felt compelled to throw its weight behind that work.

The Partnership Agreement covers enlargement countries only, but Commissioner Füle envisages the possibility of similar agreements to cover the European Union's Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood countries. The EBU has members in all countries concerned.

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