Press Release: The Commission adopts a strategy for the Community’s audiovisual policy in the digital age

The Commission adopted 14.12.99 a Communication on the principles for the Community's audiovisual policy in the digital age. This reviews the regulatory and support mechanisms already in place or to be taken over the next five years at Community level to keep pace with the vigorous growth in this sector generated by rapid technological change. The Commission is eager to maximise growth potential while ensuring that certain fundamental principles are respected.

Following its proposal on 10 November 1999 to create a new regulatory framework for communications infrastructures and access services, the Commission turned its attention on 14.12.99 to the content of audiovisual services, acting on an initiative by Viviane REDING, the Member of the Commission responsible for education and culture. In the area of support measures the Commission adopted a proposal for the MEDIA PLUS programme (see IP/99/978), which will provide incentives for introducing new technologies at various levels.

In the area of the regulation of programme content, the 'Television without frontiers' Directive guarantees freedom to provide television broadcasting services within the Community, while safeguarding certain general interests, such as freedom of expression, the protection of minors, copyright, cultural diversity and consumer protection. The Commission will comply with the prescribed timetable for any revision of this Directive, which should have been incorporated into the Member States' legislation by 30 December 1998. In a near future, the Commission is counting on the swift adoption of the proposals for Directives on copyright and related rights in the information society and on electronic commerce. In the last quarter of 2000 it will present a report on the implementation of the Council recommendation on the protection of minors and human dignity. Also in 2000 it hopes to present a Communication on the legal framework for the film industry, dealing with such matters as how to define a European work. It will also decide whether there is a need for guidelines on state aid to TV and cinema production.

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