The president of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Jean-Paul Philippot met with European Federation of Journalists and the ERT employee representative Nikos Tsimpidas and explained that the police invasion of the ERT HQ in Agia Paraskevi was “incomprehensible”.

The European Federation of Journalists and ERT representative expressed and discussed their worries and concerns the EBU president and agreed to be in touch for the upcoming General Assembly of Public Radio and Television in December.

Mr. Philippot further explained that the interim public television station EDT will never be accepted as member of the EBU and added that Greece will likely not be allowed to participate in Europe-wide events, such as the Eurovision, without a public broadcasting service.

Pantelis Kapsis’ “dream”

Meanwhile the Deputy Minister for Public Radio and Television Pantelis Kapsis revealed on Australian TV show Dateline that his dream is “for the news editor of EDT to feel free to hang up on any Minister attempting to intervene”.

The Deputy Minister revealed that he did not agree to ERT’s closure, but argued that the new public television station “had to start from scratch”. The show also featured comments from EDT reporters speaking sarcastically of their former ERT colleagues’ struggle.

Mr. Kapsis also spoke to French newspaper Le Monde about the future of NERIT. The Deputy Minister argued that “the most capable” employees will be hired and promised that the recruitment procedure will be “fully transparent”.

The French report include comments from NERIT chairman Giorgos Prokopakis who conceded that “the sudden closure of ERT was a serious mistake, especially the method”, before adding that he has high hopes of the new broadcasting service.