European Commission says it did not ask Greece to shut down ERT

The European Commission did not seek the closure of Greek national broadcaster ERT, Brussels said in a statement released on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the Commission has taken note of the decision of the Greek government to close down ERT, referring to a decision taken in “full autonomy.”

The Commission does not question the Greek government’s “mandate to manage the public sector. The decision of the Greek authorities should be seen in the context of the major and necessary efforts that the authorities are taking to modernise the Greek economy,” the statement read.

While the Commission comprehends the “difficult situation of ERT staff” it expected the layoffs to carried out “in full accordance with the applicable legal framework.”

The role of public broadcasting as an “integral part of European democracy,” was supported by the European Commission, the statement continued while the organization “welcome the commitment of the Greek government to launch a media actor that fulfills the important role of public broadcasting and is financially sustainable.”