The mass media continue to be in the focus of Parliament, especially at the current stage, when it aims to modernize itself and to meet the European standards, the head of the parliamentary commission on culture, education, youth, research, sport and mass media Vladimir Hotineanu said in an interview for Media Azi, quoted by IPN.

Vladimir Hotineanu said the work on the draft Broadcasting Code continues. The commission plans to submit it to Parliament for examination in the first reading in 2016. As regards the law on advertising, this needs to be seriously updated and the Government is expected to submit proposals.

The MP also said that the commission’s work agenda includes a number of draft legal acts concerning the protection of the information area of the Republic of Moldova. Among these are two bills to amend and supplement the Broadcasting Code, which were discussed publicly and appraised by European institutions.

Asked why the journalists do not yet have free access to the sittings of Parliament, Vladimir Hotineanu said such decisions derive from the possibilities of the assembly hall. He noted that the phenomenon of manipulation in the mass media is now not strictly regulated by law. To exclude it, the journalists should obey not only the legal provisions, but also the principles of the Deontological Code. The monopolization of the mass media cannot be allowed.

Asked what steps will be taken for the bill on the post office not to lead to the bankruptcy of the print media, the MP said the adoption of this bill is provided in the plan of action for implementing the Association Agreement with the EU. The commission examined the proposals of the Association of Independent Press over this draft law. As a result, there were formulated amendments for the second reading of the bill. These were submitted to the commission on economy, budget and finance for consideration.