European Public Service media (PSM) has today welcomed a ruling by the top administrative court in Greece ordering the Greek government to restore national broadcaster ERT to air immediately. Jean Paul Philippot, president of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), agreed that the court had delivered the right result.
Last Tuesday (11 June) the Council of State suspended the government decree to close ERT, recognising the importance of the Greek public service broadcaster in providing information, education and entertainment content.
The Council of State has now ordered the Greek government to restore the ERT signal, and continue broadcasting through the ERT frequencies and internet sites, until a new public service broadcaster is established.
Commenting on the court’s decision, Philippot said, “This is a positive turn because it means public service media will return to Greece. We welcome the news that ERT will reopen, and we offer our support to build a new, successful, independent and sustainable public broadcaster that will contribute to pluralism and diversity in Greek society.”
Since its closure, the EBU has continued to call for ERT to be permitted to resume broadcasting, giving the Greek public access to public service information. The case against the government closure of ERT was brought by POSPERT, a union representing ERT employees, almost 3,000 of whom were laid off last Tuesday night.
