1. Regional news exchange in South-East Europe Dr. Uroš Lipuš č ek RTV Slovenia

2. REGIONAL EXCHANGES IN THE FRAMEWORK OF EBU ~ NORDIC NEWS EXCHANGE ~ MEDITERRANEAN NEWS EXCHANGE ~ EAST EUROPEAN NEWS EXCHANGE ~ ERNO - South East European News Exchange

3. ERNO MISSION ~ ERNO is a regional TV news exchange network in South-East Europe, begun in November 2000 in South-East Europe, begun in November 2000 by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). ~ ERNO daily news exchange is financed by the government of Finland and UNESCO. government of Finland and UNESCO.

4. ERNO OBJECTIVES ERNO came into existence out of the need to improve and reestablish the links and cooperation that had been cut between the countries in this area after the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia, thanks to the efforts of the Finnish government and YLE.

5. THE MEMBERS 12 public broadcasters from SE EUROPE: RTVSH ALBANIA PBS BIH BOSNIA AND HERCEGOVINA RTVSR REPUBLIKA SRBSKA BNT BULGARIA HRT CROATIA MTV HUNAGARY TVR- ROMANIA MKRTV MACEDONIA RTS AND RTVCG SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO RTK- KOSOVO RTVSLO SLOVENIJA

6. ERNO PRESENT ACTIVITIES ~ Currently it produces more than 1000 items annually – year 2004. annually – year 2004. ~ Around 70% of all exchanged news is broadcast. ~ The Scandinavian news exchange system exchanged just a little higher volume of news items – 1253 news items in a little higher volume of news items – 1253 news items in the year 2004. the year 2004. ~ Beyond the news exchange, the ERNO mission is to promote also co-productions and professionalism in all promote also co-productions and professionalism in all fields of TV production. fields of TV production.

7. FUTURE PLANS ~ Future operation of ERNO is desired by all members. ~ The government of Finland and UNESCO will cease to finance ERNO activities after 2007. to finance ERNO activities after 2007. ~ ERNO should become a financially self-sustainable association. association. ~ Some members (RTCG, MKRTV, RTK, RTVSR) will not be able to finance ERNO activities. not be able to finance ERNO activities. ~ A modest international financial contribution will be necessary after 2007. necessary after 2007.

8. Association of public broadcasters in SE Europe (SEV) – South-East Vision. The mission: ~ Stimulate cooperation and co-production between public broadcasters. public broadcasters. ~ Decentralized and cost efficient association with members in charge of different fields of cooperation. members in charge of different fields of cooperation. ~ Financially self-sustainable association (in few years after set up). after set up).

9. SEV: FROM IDEA TO REALITY ~ SEV will start a new era of cooperation between public broadcasters in SE Europe. public broadcasters in SE Europe. ~ SEV will have positive effects on transformation of public TV in SE Europe. TV in SE Europe. ~ SEV should be supported by the EU.