We, the Press Club Brussels Europe, holding the 2013-2014 Presidency of the European Federation of Press Clubs, representing 13.000 journalists from European Press Clubs deplore the action of the Greek government for the closing of the public broadcaster ERT and support the Greek journalists affected by such a decision.

We consider unrealistic and selfish the decision to shut down the only public broadcasting service in the country.

The need for austerity measures in Greece is not a valid reason to infringe the rights of the journalists and of the public altogether. While acknowledging the need for budgetary cuts, we believe that this should not be done at the cost of the public’s right to information.

Journalism is a public good to which all Greeks need unconditional access. Also, such a move has already threatened the democracy in Greece, and may lead to further political and social instability.

Along with the European Broadcasting Union, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and thousands of the EU journalists, the Press Club Brussels Europe is expressing its dismay at the move to close the ERT.

We invite that the country’s Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, to call off this ‘absurd’ decision as soon as possible.

Yours truly,
Peter N. Kramer
President EPCF
Brussels