Brussels, 22/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 February, MEPs on the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee asked the European Commission and the European Fundamental Rights Agency to carry out an annual audit of media laws across the EU27 and monitor concentration in the media industry. Adopting a report by Renate Weber (ALDE, Romania) on the EU charter as a body of standards for freedom of the media throughout the EU by 47 votes for to 6 against, the MEPs urged the Commission, the European Fundamental Rights Agency and the European University Institute and its media centre to assess the extent to which the new laws allow governments to interfere with the media. A report will need to be published each year, setting out recommendations, but the Weber Report does not refer to any country or law in particular.
The MEPs on the Civil Liberties Committee call for legally binding procedures and mechanisms to be introduced, along with criteria for the appointment of public officials responsible for the media, members of media company's boards and members of media council and regulatory bodies in a transparent, merit-based manner that is ethical, professional and independent. The report calls for competition rules to apply to the media to prevent dominant positions emerging. The Commission is urged to take tangible measures to prevent excessive media concentration, to draw up rules for settling conflicts of interest (like those arising from the merger of political views and control over the media) and to ensure journalists' independence by protecting them from pressure, intimidation and harassment.
The Civil Liberties Committee recommends non-legislative action, such as this annual audit or self-regulation, rather than new EU laws. The rapporteur does, however, want the Commission to expand the audiovisual services directive to ensure full application of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, particularly full independence of national media watchdogs, effective watchdog decisions and resources to ensure they are respected. The Parliament plenary will vote on the Weber Report shortly, but the date has not yet been fixed. (SP/transl.fl)