Romania

[RO] Modifications of the Audiovisual Act rejected

IRIS 2015-5:1/31

Eugen Cojocariu

Radio Romania International

In March 2015, the Chamber of Deputies (lower chamber of the Romanian Parliament) rejected two draft laws intended to modify and complete the Audiovisual Act no. 504/2002 with further modifications and completions (Legea nr. 504/2002 a audiovizualului, cu modificările şi completările ulterioare). The decision of the Senate (Upper Chamber) will be final in both cases (see IRIS 2002-3/20, IRIS 2009-2/29, IRIS 2010-1/36, IRIS 2011-4/31, IRIS 2011-7/37, IRIS 2014-1/37, IRIS 2014-7/29, IRIS 2014-9/26).

The first draft law was rejected almost unanimously by the deputies on 11 March 2015. The document intended to introduce an obligation for audiovisual media providers to introduce in their programme schedules health education campaigns in the form of audio/TV medical spots of one minute per hour. The purpose of these spots was to provide information needed to acquire a healthy lifestyle. Another purpose was to provide information necessary to ensure optimal first aid measures.

The second draft law, which proposed significant changes to the Audiovisual Act, was rejected by the deputies on 18 March 2015. The Lower Chamber rejected the Draft Law on the set-up, the organisation and the provision of audiovisual mass-media services with a very large majority. The draft law proposed, inter alia, a change in the composition of the National Audiovisual Council (Consiliul Naţional al Audiovizualului - CNA) and intended to introduce several requirements for a membership in the CNA (graduation of certain studies or 5 years’ experience in the fields of audiovisual media, journalism, communication sciences, PR, theatre, cinema, visual arts, sociology, psychology or IT) and more clear exclusion criteria. The President’s mandate would have been for 3 years, renewable only once. The dismissal of the CNA President and Vice-President would have been possible with the vote of 6 members out of 11. Another important change would have been the introduction of mixed financing of the CNA (combining own revenues and state subsidies, in comparison to the present state budget financing).