Radio România Internațional

Tag: licence fee

  • State funding for public broadcasters?

    State funding for public broadcasters?

    The Chamber of
    Deputies, Parliament’s decision-making body in this case, on Tuesday passed a
    bill proposed by the Social Democratic Party to eliminate over 100 non-fiscal
    charges, including the radio and TV licence fee, which provides most of the
    funding for the public broadcasters.




    On Monday, the
    Social Democrats had given up on plans to eliminate this charge amid criticism
    from politicians, civil society and representatives of public media
    institutions, all of whom said doing away with the licence fee would
    significantly affect the autonomy and independence of the public radio and TV
    services. The Management Board of the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation
    says the elimination of the licence fee by law gravely affects the independence
    and impartiality of the public broadcasting services. Media organisations have
    also criticised the move, saying it profoundly alters the mission of public
    radio and TV services and creates an excessive dependence on the political
    element.




    In response, the
    president of the Social Democratic Party Liviu Dragnea said the elimination of
    the licence fee does not imply the political subordination of the two public
    institutions and proposed the establishment of specific state budget
    allocations. Liviu Dragnea:




    For next year,
    through the state budget law, we will approve in Parliament a rate of 21 lei on
    behalf of every Romanian citizen for the public radio broadcaster, amounting to
    420 lei, and of 34 lei for the television broadcaster, amounting to 680 lei.




    The Liberals
    explained why they voted in favour of the bill, despite being in opposition.
    Here’s the Liberal MP Andreea Paul:




    The National
    Liberal Party voted in favour of the bill because it is a good bill in general.
    It does, pose, however, two major risks. The elimination of the radio and TV
    licence fee is a huge mistake that will amputate the freedom and autonomy of
    the public radio and TV broadcasting services which cannot buy this freedom by
    resorting to the state budget. On the other hand, for next year, the Social
    Democratic Party proposes new levies and para-fiscal taxes instead, which means
    they are only interested in eliminating these charges for the duration of the
    election campaign.




    The government
    says the initiators of the bill have not indicated the source of funding to
    cover the budget impact of the elimination of these charges. According to the
    finance minister Anca Dragu, the elimination of the radio and TV licence fee
    may cost the state budget around 140 million euros a year. She warns that
    funding the public broadcasting services from the state budget implies amending
    the law regulating the activity of the two institutions, which is an organic
    law. Anca Dragu:




    Within the
    current legal framework, the state budget can only cover certain types of
    expenses incurred by the radio and TV broadcasters. So it cannot cover all of
    their expenses. These fees are therefore necessary and form part of the legal
    framework regulating the activity of the public radio and TV broadcasters.




    Prime minister
    Dacian Ciolos has also warned that the adoption of the bill would lead to an
    increase in other levies and taxes to compensate for the budget expenses.



  • October 26, 2016

    October 26, 2016

    BILL – Representatives of the Romanian Government and the National Liberal Party (PNL) consider appealing in the Constitutional Court the bill on the elimination of over 100 small non-fiscal charges as of January 1st, including the radio and TV licence fee. The bill, proposed by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) was passed on Tuesday by the Chamber of Deputies, Parliament’s decision-making body in this case. The bill has been passed without an assessment of its impact on next year’s state budget and the MPs have not indicated the source of funding, the bill’s opponents have argued. In their opinion, the elimination of the licence fee by law gravely affects the independence and impartiality of the public broadcasting services. A number of media organisations are calling on president Klaus Iohannis not to sign the bill into law and launch a public debate on the status of public media services.





    ANNIVERSARY – The series of events occasioned by the anniversary of King Mihai I of Romania, who turned 95 on October 25th continues. On this occasion, the King’s eldest daughter, Her Royal Highness Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, has said that the birthday anniversary of King Mihai takes place in 2016, when it is 150 years since the Romanian Crown served Romania’s history, the nation’s identity and continuity. On Thursday, Princess Margareta and Price Radu will attend the public presentation of the stamp collection entitled “Engines, a royal passion”, by Romfilatelia at Carol I Central University Library in Bucharest. On this occasion the Royal Choir will give a short recital. Mihai I is Romania’s last king and the only surviving head of state from WWII. He ruled the country two times, between 1927 and 1930, and between 1940 and 1947, respectively. Forced to abdicate by the communists , on December 30, 1947, the former monarch lived in exile. After the Anti-communist Revolution of 1989, he returned to his native Romania.




    MILITARY DRILL — A multinational military drill involving 1,300 military is being conducted as of today until November 2nd at the Land forces training centre in Cincu, Brasov county. “SCORPIONS FURY — 16”, that unfolds in three stages, has been coordinated by the NATO Southeast Multinational Division Command. Romania’s land forces participate in the military exercise with around one thousand troops, alongside colleagues from Canada, Germany and the Republic of Moldova.




    RANKING — Romania ranks 36th in the World Bank’s classification “Doing Business 2017”, one place down as against the previous year. Romania advanced in terms of tax payment, but went down in terms of starting a business. Romania is ahead of countries like Hungary, Belgium, Italy and Turkey but comes after countries like New Zealand, which ranks first, Poland, the Czech Republic and Kazakhstan. The World Bank report assesses 190 economies based on 11 criteria such as taking out loans, access to the electricity network and cross border transactions.




    NATO – Romanian Defense Minister Mihnea Motoc is today attending a NATO meeting in Brussels. Motoc will have several meetings with counterparts from NATO countries. The US Ambassador to NATO, Douglas Lute, has said in Brussels that NATO will consolidate its presence in Romania and the neighboring Bulgaria. Ambassador Lute has also said that, for the time being, plans on consolidating the presence of NATO’s air and naval forces in the Black Sea region are still being discussed.




    TENNIS — Romanian tennis player Simona Halep (WTA no. 4) will take on Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia (WTA no. 8) on Thursday in the Red Group at the WTA finals in Singapore. On Tuesday Halep lost to world’s number one player Angelique Kerber of Germany, 4-6, 2-6. Halep ranks second in her group, after Angelique Kerber. In the White Group, the Czech player Karolina Pliskova (WTA no.5) defeated the Roland Garros defending champion, Spanish Garbine Muguruza (WTA no.6) and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova (WTA no.9) defeated last year’s winner of the title, Polish Agnieszka Radwanska (WTA no.3). Simona Halep is participating for the third time in the WTA Finals, after in 2014 she met Serena Williams in the finals, and last year failed to go past the group stage.


    (Translated by Elena Enache)

  • October 20, 2016 UPDATE 2

    October 20, 2016 UPDATE 2

    Ingrid Deltenre, the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) Director General, expresses in a letter sent to the Romania authorities on Thusrday the utmost concern of the organization about the proposal to abolish the radio and television fee as part of a broader proposal to reduce charges for Romanian citizens ahead of the forthcoming elections.



    Broadcasting fees and similar contributions by citizens are today not only the most stable and predictable, but also the most widespread and important source of funding for public service media in Europe. In 2015, broadcasting fees contributed two thirds of all income of public service media among the EBU membership, stated Ingrdi Deltenre.



    The EBU responsible added that it is possible to make broadcasting fees transparent, adaptable, future-proof and socially acceptable. Such a system has the advantage that it establishes a direct link between the broadcaster and the public, making the broadcaster more accountable to the audience it serves. Even more importantly, it is a key element to safeguard the independence of public service media from political and economic powers. In contrast, direct funding from the State budget is often difficult to secure in times of austerity and exposes public broadcasters to political interference and pressure. As experience in other countries has shown, it is very difficult to introduce a broadcasting fee once is has been abolished, considered Deltenre.



    We therefore appeal to you not to take such an irremediable step, which may destroy the system of public service broadcasting in Romania, declared the EBU Director General.