Debate: Future EU financing of the radio network Euranet Plus
Date: THURSDAY, 10 JUNE 2021
Speaker: Helena Dalli
Language: EN

The Commission thanks the Parliament for the importance it gives to these issues. To help media cover EU affairs from multiple viewpoints, the EU provides support through the multimedia actions budget. One of the current beneficiaries of this budget is Euranet Plus, which gathers 13 public broadcasters and private radio stations.  In line with the principle of sound financial management, the Commission monitors all multimedia actions closely, measuring their performance through independent audits, while fully respecting their editorial independence. The latest performance audit, concluded in 2020, looked into the cost efficiency and effectiveness of each multimedia action and its audiences, and it included a detailed analysis of the balance, independence, impartiality and accuracy of the content each action produced.  While Euranet Plus has extensive expertise, the Commission must take into account the conclusions of this independent performance audit, which states that a competitive selection process could yield an equally effective implementer and potentially with lower central administration and oversight costs, and that the role of Euranet Plus could be carried out by a different organisation, potentially with a more effective approach to aspects such as marketing, expansion and editorial control.  To adhere to the principles of transparency and equal treatment enshrined in the financial regulation, the Commission must take into account the possibility that other similar networks of radio stations could be established. Therefore, the 2021 Financing Decision on multimedia actions foresees support for a radio network through an open call for proposals, safeguarding the current levels of funding. The Commission is ready to implement the decision. By acting swiftly, the results of the call could be known in September, well before the current grant with Euranet Plus expires. Building on its knowledge and experience, Euranet Plus could be a serious contender should it decide to apply under the call.  While the 2017 and 2019 grants with Euranet Plus were concluded on the basis that Euranet Plus possessed a high degree of specialisation, there is no longer sufficient evidence to support this view. Therefore, it is the Commission’s view that legal conditions for a direct grant to Euranet Plus are no longer met, and as such the Commission has no choice but to launch an open call.  The financing decision is the result of a careful exploration of all legally compliant options. The Commission reassures you that we are committed to supporting radio at current levels of funding in 2022 and 2023. The multimedia actions budget for 2021 could only cater for one year of operations. The 2022 budget will be sufficient to support a radio network for two years if adopted as programmed by the budgetary authority.  The Commission stands ready to discuss the future of all multimedia actions with Parliament so that we can jointly make sure that we reach as many Europeans as possible, involving as many interested media as possible, to make sure that citizens are truly well informed about EU affairs.