Culture Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski has said that he will financially assist Polskie Radio’s orchestras after a meeting with the public broadcaster’s president yesterday.

“I am able to help,” Minister Zdrojewski has told TVP. “Today's talks were good. We care that these institutions continue to operate and assess their level of artistry as very high.”

The degree of financial help was not revealed, however. There are also doubts about EU funding for the orchestras for the 2012-13 period if the government steps in with help.

Polskie Radio had appealed to the ministry following a Constitutional Tribunal ruling that unemployed and pensioners to not have to purchase the licence fee to assess public radio, a move which would deprive the broadcaster of 70 million zloty in revenue. With the amount of people paying the fee reduced after doubts that the government will continue to fund public TV and radio from the licence fee the financial situation of both is dire.

President of Polskie Radio, Jaroslaw Hasinski has also called on the Foreign Ministry to maintain the External Service, which is currently funded by two-thirds of its budget from taxation. (pg)