The Supervisory Board of the National Public Broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova” as a result of heated debates approved changes to the company’s policy plan for this year, in favor of modernizing Studio No. 1 of the public TV channel “Moldova 1”, IPN reports.
The Board’s head Aurelia Peru-Balan has told IPN that the project to modernize the studio at a cost of 16 milling lei was initiated in June. A month ago, the administration of “Teleradio-Moldova” asked amending the policy plan for 2013 and redirecting 8.2 million lei for its implementation. This approach caused heated debates among the members of the Supervisory Board. Though she supported the changes, Aurelia Peru-Balan believes the company’s administration didn’t obey the Law on Public Procurement as the announcements concerning acquisitions that exceed 2.5 million lei should be placed in the Official Journal of the European Union.
As a result of an enquiry made by the Supervisory Board, the State Public Procurement Agency answered that Article 19 of the Law on Public Procurement applies only to the EU member states and was included in the law in order to adjust the national legislation to the EU standards. Aurelia Peru-Balan considers that this answer represents an interpretation of the legislation.
However, the Supervisory Board carried the changes by the votes of five members of the eight attending. It recommended the company’s administration to ask for an Audit Office audit into the use of public money when the project is over. It also recommended creating a group for monitoring the implementation of the project. The group should include representatives of civil society and the National Public Broadcaster and a member of the Supervisory Board.
Studio No. 1 of the national TV channel “Moldova 1” is the second largest of the public broadcaster. After it is renovated, it will ensure the broadcasting of programs produced by two departments – TV Productions and the Department of News and Debates.
