European Commission criticized the 'Unified News' telethon.

The European Commission is against the Ukrainian government's 'Unified News' telethon, as it calls for the revival of various broadcasters. This position is expressed in the European Commission's report on the progress of candidate countries.

The European Commission criticized the funding of 'Unified News' from the state budget and expressed doubts about their objectivity.

«In 2023, the Ukrainian government invested state funds in the television marathon project. It is worth reassessing whether this is the best platform for free discussion», said representatives of the European Commission.

Moreover, the European Commission drew attention to the issues of the 'Rada' channel, whose aim was to cover parliamentary activities, including the work of the opposition. The channel is criticized for insufficient representation of opposition views, and the broadcast of parliamentary sessions was halted in 2022 and has not resumed.

Unfortunately, the initial 'Unified News' telethon provided objective and timely information during the war, but today people want to receive different information. In this regard, Acting Minister of Culture and Information Policy Rostyslav Karandeev stated that the telethon needs transformation. However, he declined to disclose details until specific results are obtained.

Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine Mykola Tochytskyi stated that 'Unified News' will continue broadcasting as long as the war with Russia continues.

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) urged the Ukrainian authorities to seriously reconsider the telethon format and consider the possibility of its closure.