CTK Council

The legal position of the Czech News Agency Council

The position of the Council is laid out in paragraphs 4-8 of the Czech News Agency Law. It is a seven-member organ constituted by the law for the right of the public to oversee the news agency. Its powers include oversight ensuring that CTK fulfils its mission described above and provides objective and complex information for the free formation of opinions. The Council also rules on complaints against the agency's activities. The agency fulfils tasks that are based on its existence as the oversight organ of the agency. It names and removes the Director General, decides on complaints filed against the Director General, approves the budget and the annual report as well as approves the Agency Statute on the proposal from the Director General. The Council also monitors any subsidies from the state budget should they be provided.

Council members are elected by the Chamber of Deputies for a maximum of two five-year periods. They are responsible to the Chamber for their activities and the Chamber also decides on the amount they are rewarded with for their work in the Council. CTK fully finances all of the Council's activities. The Council presents the Chamber of Deputies with a report on CTK's activities and financial state every year.

Council members have clearly defined and strictly forbidden conflicts of interest connected to their post. They may not be members of the Chamber of Deputies, ministers or deputy ministers as well as not having any posts in political parties to ensure political independence. Also, members may not work in other organisations that can be considered part of the media. Council members and their close relatives also must not have any interests in operating media outlets, including employment in such an organisation.

The Chamber of Deputies will remove any council member if any of the above regulations are violated. The Council as a whole can be removed if it fails to ensure that the agency fulfils its mission, fails to name or remove the Director General, or fails to approve of the budget or the annual report. The Council can also be removed if it does not present its annual report to the Chamber of Deputies or the Chamber repeatedly over six months resolves that the agency is not providing objective and complex information.