On 5 June 2012 in the European Parliament there was held a public hearing and a debate on media freedom in Poland. Their goal was to focus the interest of the representatives of the European Union institutions and the citizens of the Member States on the issue of respecting the principle of freedom of expression in the media and on the attention for their pluralism. During the public hearing, Mr. Benedykt Fiutowski presented the case of TRWAM TV which applied for the extension of the digital terrestrial television broadcasting concession.

Mr. Benedykt Fiutowski described the origins of the proceedings initiated by Lux Veritatis Foundation against the National Broadcasting Council (Polish KRRiTV) and listed the most important objections that were presented before the Administrative Court in respect of the appealed decision issued by the National Broadcasting Council. These objections related both to the infringement of procedural rules to the extent so important that it had an impact on the issuance of the contested decision as well as to the violation of substantive law.

“The objections posed in the complaint to the Regional Administrative Court prove that the National Broadcasting Council made numerous errors which do not fall within the category of administrative discretion, but they constitute the evidence of an unacceptable breach of the rules of procedure for distributing rationed goods in the form of television broadcasting concession.”- with these words Mr. Benedykt Fiutowski concluded his speech in the European Parliament.

We present you with the entire content of the speech delivered by Mr. Benedykt Fiutowski.