EUROPEAN UNION GRANTS FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO CROATIAN MEDIA

( Editorial: --> 8052 ) ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, 12 Dec (Hina) - Believing that the freedom of the media is an important factor in the development of political stability and economic development of countries on the territory of former Yugoslavia, the European Union will earmark 1.75 million ECU for the Croatian press and electronic media, special envoy of the European Commission to Croatia, Per Vinther, said in a statement Friday. From its budget line devised to support the peace and democracy process, i.e. independent media in the countries of former Yugoslavia, the EU earmarked 10 million ECU for Bosnia- Herzegovina, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Croatia. Of this amount, the EU has allocated 1.75 ECU (or 3.5 million DM) for independent, professional Croatian media. In order to improve the current media situation in Croatia, additional efforts will still have to be made on all levels. Firstly, to ensure professionalism and high standards of working of journalists and audio-visual technicians, one should improve initial and follow-up education. Secondly, the independent media should have access to material needed to operate well. Systems need to be set up to treat all media equally. Equal access to the distribution network for the written media, and frequencies for the audio visual media should be promoted through creation and maintenance of networks by associations of independent media. As the needs are far greater than the funding available to the European Commission, it has identified the following priority areas for funding Croatian media projects: - support for a variety of written media (daily, weekly, monthly) - technical assistance to local television and radio stations - aid for the purchase of technical equipment for media - development of a Press Centre though the Croatian Association of Journalists - training of all interested journalists, inside the country or by offering traineeships in other countries. The training will be provided on a regular and ongoing basis and will be mostly channelled through the Croatian Association of Journalists. The EU will continue to monitor the situation for the Croatian media, especially for the electronic ones, i.e. television, with a view to providing financial support also in 1998. This support should be seen in the context of the development of political and economic relations between Croatia and the EU. This is subject to a number of conditions, concerning democracy, human and minority rights. In providing support for the independent media, the EU is assisting Croatia in complying with these conditions, thereby speeding up the European integration process, the statement said. (hina) rm 122333 MET dec 97