EU co-legislators are currently on track for obtaining an agreement of principle on the circumvention procedure, one of the most difficult points in the reform of audiovisual media services (see EUROPE 11913). This was demonstrated at the inter-institutional meeting on 28 November last. A point of information during the Committee of Permanent Representatives was subsequently provided the following day.
It should be recalled that the draft text presented in May 2016, seeks to create a fairer regulatory environment between traditional and over the top (OTT) services, as well as introduce greater flexibility in the rules governing advertising and supporting creativity in Europe by way of obligations promoting European content (see EUROPE 11558). The inter-institutional negotiations began on 10 July and have so far involved five meetings taking place in this connection (see EUROPE 11913). In the conclusions from 19 October, the heads of state and government said that this dossier should ideally be completed “before the end of the year”.
The dossier, however, is far from being completed, insofar as the co-legislators have still not discussed commercial communications. They are also continuing to express different views on services that should be compelled to financially contribute to the production of European content. According to one European source close to the dossier, the idea of not submitting linear services to this obligation, whilst including a clause for including them for the member states that so wish, is currently being examined.
On the other questions, it appears that the Parliament is prepared to make a conciliatory gesture on transparency in the area of media ownership, in exchange for a Council concession on the visibility of content of general interest.
The rapporteurs and shadow rapporteurs are expected to highlight the progress made on this reform to their colleagues in Parliament's committee for culture on 5 December at 5.30pm. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)