SPAIN TO CLOSE A CATALAN-SPOKEN TV STATION,
A SERIOUS CRIME TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY

To the attention of

Ms. Viviane Reding,

Comissioner for Information Society and Media

European Commission

viviane.reding@ec.europa.eu

Mr. Ján Figel

Comissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism

European Commission

CAB-FIGEL@ec.europa.eu

Mr. Hans-Gert Pöttering,

President European Parliament

hans-gert.poettering@europarl.europa.eu

We are addressing you on behalf of a serious crime against freedom of information and cultural diversity that is being committed in the Països Catalans. The Valencian Government is determined to close down the broadcasting of a television station which has been broadcasting for the last 19 years in this region, with the purpose of limiting the range of information sources of the Valencian people. The television station is called TVC (Televisió de Catalunya) and normally broadcasts in other regions in the Països Catalans. Even though we understand that radio or television broadcast is out of your competence, we believe that in front of an attack against freedom and the fundamental rights, you will act firmly and authoritatively. Freedom of speech and information are milestones in the building of the European project, and we don’t want to be left out due to a lack of attention.

Thanking you for your time, we are looking forward to your reply and firm action.

Sincerely,

Josep Sort,
Cornellà de Llobregat,
Catalunya