"I encourage the Greek government to accept the European Broadcasting Union's offer of advice and assistance necessary to ensure ERT becomes a true public broadcaster corresponding to Council of Europe standards for public service media.

I recall the importance of public broadcasting for ensuring media pluralism and diversity of views within a democratic society. I am concerned about the abrupt manner in which the Greek public broadcaster has been shut down.

I acknowledge the need to remedy the shortcomings of ERT, but this can, and should be achieved without a discontinuation of public broadcasting in Greece, even if it is only a temporary one."