Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum –BRAF
In order to create a platform comprising the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) member states’ broadcasting regulatory authorities, a project proposal prepared by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) of Turkey was submitted to BSEC member states. Accordingly, the proposal was accepted in BSEC Information and Communication Technologies Working Group Meeting, held in Ukraine-Kiev in December 4th -5th , 2007.
In this context, BSEC member states’ broadcasting regulatory authorities convened in BSEC Headquarters, Istanbul, on 30 June 2008 and agreed to release a Joint Declaration declaring the establishment of the Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum –BRAF. The representatives of all member states decided to hold annual BRAF meetings for furthering cooperation and discussing the common issues of the Broadcasting sector.
Consequently, the first Annual Meeting of BRAF, preceded by the Meeting of Experts Committee, which prepared the final version of the BRAF Charter, was held in Antalya on 25-26 June 2009. The final version of the BRAF Charter was adopted at the Meeting of Presidents on 26 June 2009.
According to the Charter, each year one of the member states shall host the annual meetings. The Executive Body has been designed as a “troika”, as practiced by the EU, and consists of the current chair, the predecessor and the successor. The Secretarial services of the BRAF shall be carried out by the Permanent Secretariat (PS). The BRAF PS will function under the authority of the Chairperson. That authority shall be executed by the Executive Secretary. The BRAF PS is located in Ankara, Republic of Turkey. The Executive Secretary shall be appointed by the RTUK with due prior informing BRAF Members about this appointment. The internet address of the BRAF is www.braf.info.
The Fourth Annual Meeting of the Black Sea Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum (BRAF) was held in Kyiv, Ukraine on 5-6 September 2013, hosted by Ukraine National Radio and Television Council. The main theme of the meeting was “New Media, Its Impact on the Broadcasting and the National Regulatory Authorities’ Approach.”
At the meeting, the representatives of the Member States made presentations, provided information and exchanged views with regard to the progress and objectives achieved in broadcasting sector in their countries. They also gave detailed consideration to the national regulations and applications (Smart Signs Systems etc.) on protection of minors in Member States and the participants discussed, amended and adopted the “Kyiv Joint Declaration on Protection of Minors”.
At the second part of the meeting, the ‘Comparative Analysis of BRAF Member States’ Regulatory Authorities prepared based on Tirana Regulatory Authorities’ Identity (TRAI) Form which was adopted at the previous annual meeting held in Tirana, Albania was presented. In this context the delegations were informed on the current state of affairs of BRAF Regulatory Authorities with regard to number of broadcasters, jurisdiction of relevant national regulatory authorities, respective legislation aimed at protection of minors, and broadcasting principles and penalty mechanisms applied etc. The representatives of Member State’s gave detailed consideration to the main theme of the meeting. They discussed and exchanged views by emphasizing the transforming nature of the media and provided information about their regulatory authorities’ approach to the concept of “new media”.
For further information please visit: www.braf.info