Poland

[PL] Bill to Amend the Radio and Television Act Rejected

IRIS 1999-7:1/29

Alexander Scheuer

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

At the end of March, the President of Poland used his right of veto to reject the proposed amendment to the Broadcasting Law of 29 December 1992.

The version of the Bill prepared by the Senate made provision first of all for a total ban on commercial breaks during film broadcasts. After this suggestion had been debated in the Parliament ( Sejm), the provision was modified so that only documentaries, children's programmes and discussion programmes would be affected by the advertising ban. In addition, the Finance Minister was to be empowered to dismiss members of the public radio and television authorities from their posts if their annual report did not receive the required level of approval. The veto was based primarily on doubts over the compatibility of the Bill with European Union law. The Bill was also thought not to uphold the principle of the independence of public broadcasting.

If the Lower House wishes to retain the proposal and override the veto, it will need a three-fifths majority in favour of the Bill.