Brussels, 07/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 7 November, the European Commission launched the creation of a Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom within the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence. The centre will receive a subsidy of €600,000. Its activities will start in December 2011, under the management of Professor Pier Luigi Parcu. They will consist of seeking new ideas on the best way to guarantee the great diversity and liberty of the media and to improve the quality of the reflection on media pluralism in Europe.
The Centre will carry out four specific activities: theoretical and applied research (series of working documents, political studies, observatory on media pluralism), debates, education and training activities (university seminars, summer school) and dissemination of results.
The EUI was chosen to host the centre because of its long experience in the area of European governments.
The initiative constitutes an additional stage in the Commission's commitment to reinforce the respect for media pluralism and freedom throughout Europe and to decide on whether any additional measures need to be taken at European level, or national and regional levels. A high-level group dealing with the issue and chaired by Vaira Vike-Freiberga was recently set in place. The Commission is also working on creating a multi-party group on the future of the media, which will become operational shortly. (OL/transl.fl)