The European Commission has requested that Lithuania clarify how proposed amendments to the public broadcaster LRT comply with the European Media Freedom Act.
Further reading
"The Commission asked Lithuanian authorities to provide clarifications as to how compliance with Article 5 of the EMFA would be ensured, as well as the timelines and further details of the relevant legislative amendments or other initiatives." European Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said in a letter.
Virkkunen, the commissioner responsible for technological sovereignty, security and democracy, was responding to two inquiries sent in December by six Lithuanian Members of the European Parliament.
Dainius Žalimas, along with colleagues Petras Auštrevičius, Rasa Juknevičienė, Liudas Mažylis, Paulius Saudargas and Virginijus Sinkevičius, had asked the Commission to evaluate an amendment that proposed easing the procedure for dismissing the head of LRT.
The ruling coalition failed to pass those amendments last year after the opposition employed filibuster tactics, registering hundreds of proposals to delay the bill.
Article 5 of the European Media Freedom Act stipulates that decisions to dismiss heads of public service media before the end of their term must be "duly justified and may be taken only in exceptional cases".
It further states that they should be appointed "on the basis of transparent, open, effective and non-discriminatory procedures".
"Member States shall ensure that the procedures for the appointment and dismissal of the head of management or the members of the management board of public service media providers aim to guarantee the independence of public service media providers," the article reads.
New changes to LRT governance are currently under consideration in the Seimas.
The European Commission pledged to continue to "closely monitor the situation of media freedom and pluralism in all Member States, including Lithuania, both in the context of implementation of EMFA and through the annual Rule of Law Report and its country chapters."
The latest draft outlines grounds for the dismissal of the LRT Director General before the end of their term. It suggests that dismissal could occur for improper performance of duties, violations of the public interest, gross misconduct, or failure to meet the requirements of good reputation.
However, the proposal maintains the current two-thirds majority threshold for a vote of no confidence against the LRT chief, though it removes the requirement for an open ballot, leaving the voting method to the discretion of the LRT Council.
The Members of the European Parliament have submitted a third inquiry to the Commission specifically regarding these latest amendments.
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