Romania

[RO] CNA Joins Black Sea Regulatory Authorities

IRIS 2008-8:1/35

Mariana Stoican

Journalist, Bucharest

On 30 June 2008, the first meeting of the Platform of Audiovisual Regulatory Authorities of the Black Sea Region, the members of which include the Romanian Consiliul Naţional al Audiovizualului (National Audiovisual Council – CNA ), was held in Istanbul.

This platform, founded on the initiative of the Turkish Supreme Broadcasting Council, aims to increase dialogue and co-operation between regulatory authorities for electronic media in countries bordering the Black Sea and to provide a forum for discussion of matters of common interest, such as cultural diversity and protection of cultural assets. It was decided that the platform members should meet together for such discussions twice a year, with the member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation (BSEC) taking it in turns to host the meetings.

A common declaration adopted at the conclusion of this first meeting of the forum expresses the will of all signatory states to step up their co-operation in future. This Black Sea Platform is the third forum of its kind in Europe, joining the existing EPRA (European Platform of Regulatory Authorities) and the Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities.