Director General of the European Broadcast Union, Noel Curran, wrote separate letters to Kosovo Assembly President Glauk Konjufca and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, asking for adequate funding for the public broadcaster, RTK.

In his letter, Curran said that “the RTK has embarked on bold reformation processes under new management and with the support of the Supervisory Council. It is conducting comprehensive structural and organizational reforms to transform digitally and ensure efficiencies that include releasing around 25 percent of its staff”.

He also said that “according to Art 21 p 4 of the Law on RTK, the public broadcaster should receive 0.7 percent from the annual budget, which is around 16 million EUR. Currently, the broadcaster is forced to operate with only 8.9 million EUR, which is by far not sufficient for decent functioning of a democratic institution”.

“Council of Europe Recommendation CM/Rec (2012)1 on public service media governance requires the States to ensure appropriate and secure funding of PSM. The current budget of RTK seriously jeopardizes the functioning of RTK as important for society and democracy institution.”

“I hope that the Parliament of Kosovo under your leadership will support adequate funding of RTK and will enable the public broadcaster to fulfill its mission in society. This will moreover be a bold step forward in Kosovo negotiations for EU membership.”