APEL to implement a project on public control over implementation of Broadcasting Legislation

The Electronic Press Association APEL launches the project “Monitoring the Audiovisual Code Implementation” on January 1, 2007. APEL seeks to institute a public control mechanism over the method of applying the new broadcasting legislation in Moldova via this monitoring project. According to a press release of the Association, the main objectives of the project is to monitor whether the creation of the Coordinating Council of Audiovisual, the Observers Council of the National Public Institution of Audiovisual (IPNA) and the IPNA administration bodies comply with to the national legislation and the recommendations of the European Council (EC); to monitor the activity of these bodies; assess the IPNA programmes; analyse and estimate the changes on the audiovisual sector after the implementation of the new legislation; to raise public awareness concerning the potential deviations from the provisions of the Audiovisual Code and EC recommendations. The project’s implementation team will meet representatives of universities, NGOs in media and human rights, lawyers and professionals from the audiovisual field. The experts will monitor the methods used in the process of implementation of the Audiovisual Code provisions, including the foundation and the activity of the authorities created in conformity with the stipulations of the new law. Moreover, they will analyse whether these authorities as well as media institutions respect the legislation. According tot the representatives of APEL, the implementation of the project aims to ensure democratic, transparent procedures in the creation of the mentioned authorities, which would meet the national legislation and the EC recommendations; to improve the activity conditions for audiovisual institutions; improve the contents of the programme service of IPNA offered to the public; create a permanent practice of public control and law implementation monitoring concerning the activity of public institutions; increase the social conscience via increasing public awareness about the problems discovered by the monitoring team. The results of the monitoring, the analysis of quality and quantity indices, as well as other information on the implementation of the project will be published on the Association’s website www.apel.md. The first case study, within the frameworks of the project will relate to the reorganisation of public audiovisual institutions in Chisinau. APEL announces its willingness to cooperate with audiovisual institutions and the authorities created in conformity with the new legislation with the aim of instituting democratic principles of audiovisual activity in Moldova. “Monitoring of the Audiovisual Code implementation” is a project conducted by APEL with the support of Soros Foundation Moldova.