Our Party MP Nicolae Margarint criticized provisions in the draft Media Law that establish a state‑managed Register of Media Service Providers, administered by the Ministry of Culture.

During the parliamentary debates, he asked the authors of the draft to present concrete examples from EU member states where a Ministry of Culture manages a register of print and online media outlets, decides on their registration or removal, and links access to support or funding mechanisms to such registration.

“Please specify in how many EU member states the Ministry of Culture manages a special register of media institutions, decides on their registration and removal, and conditions financial support on this. I believe such a mechanism creates a risk of administrative interference and indirect influence on the press, contrary to the European principle of independence from political power,” Margarint stated.

In response, PAS MP Liliana Nicolaescu‑Onofrei referred to European recommendations and noted that states may choose which national authority manages such a register. She also acknowledged that European practice generally points to independent regulatory bodies or self‑regulatory mechanisms, and expressed openness to transferring this responsibility to an independent entity.

Margarint emphasized that no concrete example from an EU member state was provided where a ministry administers such a register for print and online media.

“I asked a very clear question and requested a concrete example. I did not receive an answer. If this model is European, then there must be concrete examples of its application in EU member states,” the MP said.

According to Margarint, to avoid any suspicion of political influence over the media, the register should be managed by independent institutions, in line with democratic best practices and the principle of media independence from the executive branch.