Joint programme Council of Europe / European Union "Pro- moting freedom, professionalism and pluralism of the media in the South Caucasus and Moldova"

Abstract

While free and independent media, sometimes qualified as the "forth estate", is a pillar of civil society, the European Union (EU) is rather absent from media development in democratizing countries. In its Strategy Paper 2011-2013, the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights does not mention the media as an explicit objective. Despite the poor situation of media in the South Caucasus, the EU is quite discreet in this sector of democracy promotion within the Armenia, Azeri and Georgian civil societies. It co-funds with the Council of Europe the joint programme "Promoting freedom, professionalism and pluralism of the media in South Caucasus and Moldova", which started on January 1, 2011 and will run until December 31, 2012. The implementation of the programme is entirely under the responsibility of the Council of Europe, an organisation which lacks the EU institutional incentives to influence the governments in the South Caucasus. Can the Council of Europe / European Union Joint programme SC-MLD-Media II have any impact on the media situation in South Caucasus, or do the realities on the field prevent any efficient implementation?