Brussels, 29/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 January at the European Parliament, senior representatives from broadcasting, network infrastructure, trade unions and professional organisations (AER, APWPT, BNE, EBU, EFJ, UNI MEI) called on EU decision-makers to shape an ambitious industrial strategy for Europe's creative and cultural industries.
The senior representatives indicated “Europe's unique radio and audiovisual model is a huge asset for Europe's competitive position in the digital world, cultural diversity and media pluralism”.
One of the stakeholders, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) said that policy-makers have to take a holistic approach in spectrum allocation in order to sustain a diverse and inclusive media landscape in Europe and the wide access of quality content for European citizens.
While the European Commission is preparing to reorientate its digital strategy, stakeholders are calling on European decision-makers to do all they can to: 1) ensure that creative and cultural industries are at the heart of Europe's Digital Single Market strategy; 2) guide new and sustain existing investments to increase certainty for employers, employees and the public alike as well as to maintain innovation, “because a strong democracy requires quality, plural and diverse content”; 3) take decisions on critical resources such as spectrum allocation on the basis of a comprehensive examination of the impact on cultural and creative sector growth and jobs. (IL)