Press Release - ENPA calls for urgent answers to concerns raised over freedom of press in Bulgaria

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Brussels, 7th June 2012- The European Newspaper Publishers’ Association (ENPA)  has called on the Bulgarian government to respond urgently to concerns raised over freedom of press in Bulgaria. This follows a Hearing on Media Freedom in Bulgaria organised by the Liberal Group (ALDE) in the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday, where Bulgarian publishers and journalists highlighted instances, including restrictions in the press distribution market, where they fear press freedom has been compromised.

ENPA Executive Director Francine Cunningham and Lyubomir Pavlov, Chair of the  Union of Publishers in Bulgaria (UBP) spoke at the European Parliament Hearing which was addressed by European Commission Vice-President, Neelie Kroes.

ENPA President Ivar Rusdal said: “As a member of the European Union, we fully expect the Government of Bulgaria to listen to the concerns raised by local media and take any swift and decisive action required to ensure that the independent press can fulfill its essential role in democratic society. ENPA has accepted the invitation of Bulgarian publishers to organize a fact-finding mission to Bulgaria to clarify the situation, in particular regarding the operation of the press distribution market.”

Please find enclosed a PDF version of this press release.



About ENPA:

The European Newspaper Publishers' Association is an international non-profit organisation representing newspapers on all platforms. ENPA represents over 5,200 national, regional and local newspaper titles, published in 23 EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland and Serbia.





For further information contact:
Francine Cunningham, Executive Director
email: francine.cunningham@enpa.be or tel:  +32 (0) 2 551 01 90 

Click here for the contact details of the ENPA staff member.

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