Experts from across Europe, including representatives of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, gathered in Chisinau (Moldova) for the 61st meeting of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA). The discussion was focused on current challenges facing media regulation – children’s digital safety, media independence and fact-checking.
Representatives of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine – Oksana Krekota, Head of the International Cooperation Division, and Ihor Tymofieіev, Analyst of Control, Analysis, Strategic and Regional Development Directorate, participated in the EPRA meeting from May 14 to 16.
This year’s meeting was an anniversary one. EPRA and the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova had their 30th celebration. The participants were welcomed by Maia Sandu, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Liliana Vitu, the President of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova, and Mari Velsand, EPRA Chairperson, Director General of the Norwegian Media Authority (NMA).
In her speech, Maia Sandu emphasized Moldova’s consistent policy towards European integration, including through reforms in the media sector.
“We already have an independent media regulator, and this is part of broader changes in our country. We also support Ukraine in its struggle”, the Moldovan President said.
Mari Velsand, EPRA Chairperson, welcomed the participants of the anniversary meeting and clarified that even in the face of global challenges, shared values remain unchanged.
“EPRA has always stood on the principles of independence, openness and cooperation”, Mari Velsand said. “In an increasingly polarized world, neutrality and integrity in regulation are not just a value, but a necessity”.
Liliana Vitu, the President of the Audiovisual Council of the Republic of Moldova, recalled that the formation of the national regulator took place in a pandemic, war, migration crisis, economic instability and constant information influence from Russia. According to her, for Moldova, as well as for Ukraine, which opposes armed aggression, it is especially important to strengthen freedom of speech, provide access to reliable facts and counter disinformation effectively. Of particular concern, it is the spread of manipulative content in the online space, which still remains virtually outside the scope of legal regulation.
“Today we have a situation where major threats have moved to digital platforms. The law does not allow us to respond effectively to them”, Liliana Vitu said.
Moldova already has a positive experience of restricting the broadcast of Russian TV channels that spread propaganda. Such restrictions have given impetus to the development of a national media product.
Representatives of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine participated in the platform’s events to learn about the experience of colleagues and current approaches to regulation. In particular, the plenary sessions discussed strategies for protecting minors on digital platforms, as well as ways to improve regulatory policy based on reliable information and analytics.
In addition to the substantive discussion, the event also had organizational significance. EPRA members elected a new leadership of the platform. The representative of the Irish media regulator, Stephanie Comey, became the head of the organization.
The 61st anniversary meeting of EPRA brought together over 130 participants from 48 member regulators. Diplomats, including the ambassadors of the United States, the Netherlands and Sweden, also attended the event.
The Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) co-organized the event. During the meeting, it was also represented and approved EPRA’s new visual identity, reflecting the modern stage of the platform’s development.
