Major European broadcasters express concern over Lithuanian government’s moves against LRT

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and leading public broadcasters, including the BBC, have raised alarm over proposed legal changes targeting Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT, warning they could increase political pressure and undermine its independence, LRT.lt reports.

The EBU’s executive board—comprising heads of eight public broadcasters from across Europe—criticised the draft amendments to LRT’s governing law, which Lithuania’s parliament plans to debate after Easter. The board said the changes would heighten LRT’s vulnerability to political interference and weaken its ability to provide impartial, reliable, and pluralistic information to the public.

In a statement, the EBU reiterated concerns previously raised by the Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe, which had questioned the process behind the amendments. The board also condemned the freezing of LRT’s funding—a move it said was intended to facilitate the dismissal of LRT’s leadership—and provisions that could allow political interference in editorial decisions.

The EBU urged Lithuania’s parliament to remove the draft law from its agenda, emphasising that public service media must serve the entire population with diverse, educational, and entertaining content. The organisation offered to collaborate with Lithuanian institutions to ensure any future legislation aligns with European standards for independent public broadcasting.

The statement was signed by EBU President Delphine Ernotte-Cunci (France Télévisions), Vice President Cilla Benkö (Swedish Radio), and directors from broadcasters in Monaco, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Portugal, Germany, and the UK, including BBC Director-General Tim Davie.

LRT has faced months of political pressure, including funding cuts and criticism over its coverage. Earlier this month, the European Commission asked Lithuania to explain how the proposed changes would comply with EU media freedom laws.