Angers - Culture Ministry State Secretary Ignacija Fridl Jarc took part in a two-day informal EU ministerial in France's Angers that discussed media pluralism and editorial independence. The officials also adopted a declaration of support for Ukraine, the Culture Ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.

After being addressed by Ukrainian Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, the EU ministers in charge of culture, audiovisual affairs and media adopted a declaration expressing solidarity and support for Ukraine, including artists and the media.

On the first day, the ministers discussed the future of European media and the strengthening of cultural diversity in the digital environment, the ministry said.

It noted that the topic had been placed among the priorities in the field of culture of the Slovenian EU presidency in the second half of 2021.

As Fridl Jarc said, it is precisely in the media space that "the principles of media pluralism, editorial independence, the right to information and freedom of speech are essential", so it must be ensured that measures did not encroach on media independence.

The state secretary noted the importance of editorial independence of the media, which enabled and ensured the credibility of information, and called for greater transparency of ownership as concentration in the media hampered media pluralism and democracy.

On the second day, the ministers discussed new challenges for heritage protection and valorisation policies, and how to approach the problem of illicit trafficking in cultural heritage items and how new technologies can be useful in this regard.

The Slovenian representative said in light of the crisis in Ukraine that the EU member states should also give priority to cyber security in the field of cultural heritage as well, and establish a single digital database.