Memorandum on Media Ownership Transparency Signed in Chișinău with EU Support
The Ministry of Culture, the Audiovisual Council, and the German organization Global Media Registry have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on media ownership transparency.
The document aims to foster cooperation between state institutions, public authorities, and civil society under the international Media Ownership Monitor initiative – a tool that identifies and publishes information about the owners of the most influential media outlets and their economic and political interests. This step responds to the European Commission’s recommendations on transparency in print and online media and reaffirms the Republic of Moldova’s commitment as an EU candidate country.
The event, hosted on Friday at Europe Café in Chișinău, was opened by Mate Csicsai, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation, who described the signing of the Memorandum as a key contribution to strengthening core EU principles such as transparency, accountability, and media pluralism.
According to the document, the Ministry of Culture, as the body responsible for media policies, will facilitate access to public data, support the dissemination of results, and promote media literacy. The Audiovisual Council will provide relevant information on the owners of media service providers and their sources of funding, contextualize data on the media market, and support civil society.
Liliana Vițu, President of the Audiovisual Council, stated: “By signing this Memorandum, we ensure compliance with one of the EU’s recommendations – namely, to guarantee transparency not only in the audiovisual sector but also in print and online media. We must have updated data, monitor the situation comprehensively in terms of property regimes, media concentration, and risks of dominant positions in shaping public opinion. Only in this way can we properly assess media pluralism.”
Olaf Steenfadt, Director of Global Media Registry, emphasized the research process and systematic data analysis, ensuring independence, rigor, and compliance with international standards, in partnership with local journalists from the NGO Media Guard.
In November 2024, Global Media Registry and Media Guard launched the Media Ownership Monitor – Moldova, which lists the legal entities and beneficiaries of the country’s most important media outlets, along with information about their backgrounds and political affiliations. The first edition covers 45 media outlets, including the owners of 13 television stations, 9 radio stations, 6 newspapers, 17 online news portals, and 12 local influencers.
