On Thursday, June 11, the draft media law passed its first reading with the votes of the majority faction. The most heated debate centered on the initiative to create a Registry of Media Service Providers, which would be administered by the Ministry of Culture.
Registration is “supposedly” voluntary
According to the draft, media service providers may be included in this Registry at their own request. Registration is voluntary and is not a mandatory requirement for providing media services, creating, producing, or distributing content, or for exercising editorial responsibility. Absence from the Registry does not limit the rights of media service providers as provided by law, nor does it exempt them from fulfilling their relevant obligations.
However, access to state support mechanisms provided for by current legislation—including the Media Subsidy Fund—is contingent upon mandatory registration as a media service provider in this Registry. The Ministry of Culture reviews the application and decides on inclusion in the Registry within 10 business days.
“But why the Ministry of Culture?”
PSRM MP and journalist Adela Răileanu acknowledged that the Republic of Moldova does indeed need a new media law and that the draft contains important and timely provisions. However, the provision regarding the Registry raises serious questions:
“Although registration is voluntary, de facto it becomes a condition for survival, since the press’s access to subsidies and state funding directly depends on this list.”
“Our Party” MP Nicolae Maragrint noted that not a single concrete example had been provided from European Union member states where a ministry would administer a similar registry for print and online media:
“I asked a very clear question and requested a specific example. No answer was given.”
According to MP Haik Vartanyan, the bill was necessary because the old 1994 law was written in a different era.
“But the main question is: why specifically the Ministry of Culture? The registry is maintained, verified, and—note this—removed from by an executive branch agency. The entire European framework is built on independent regulators, and we already have one—the Council on Television and Radio,” said Vartanyan.
MP Alexander Stoyanoglo expressed a similar view: “Who will oversee whom? The press exists to monitor the government, not the other way around.”
In turn, PAS MP Marcela Adam spoke about manipulation, information wars, and European integration:
Democracy, Pluralism, the EU
“European integration means the development of a culture of freedom, independent media institutions, pluralism of opinion, and respect for professional journalism.”
The bill will be put to a vote in the second reading.
Earlier, Culture Minister Christian Jardan commented on the draft:
“The media landscape has fundamentally changed with the emergence of digital platforms and new forms of communication. Serious challenges have arisen regarding ownership transparency, media organization funding, the protection of pluralism, editorial independence, and the fight against disinformation. This law is important not only for the media sector but for society as a whole. A free, responsible, and transparent press is a prerequisite for democracy, high-quality public information, and the strengthening of public trust,” the minister stated.
