On Tuesday 18 May, the European Ministers of Culture adopted conclusions welcoming “the relevance and importance of all actions” contained in the European action plan presented at the beginning of December by the Commission “to support the recovery and transformation” of the media sector (see EUROPE 12615/2).
The conclusions adopted differ only slightly from the provisional version detailed in mid-March in our columns (see EUROPE 12679/24).
Although the text does not openly address the growing threats to press freedom in the EU (see EUROPE 12702/28), the EU Council still defends “quality journalism, editorial processes based on journalistic ethics and standards, transparency of media ownership, and media literacy”.
All of these elements are considered “essential for deepening trust in news media”. Beyond the news media, these conclusions encompass the entire audiovisual sector.
A paragraph was added arguing that “[all] segments of the value chain” should benefit from the transformation of the media sector, including cinemas and festivals, two areas particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, as ministers recalled at their meeting on Tuesday (see EUROPE 12721/21).
Still on the subject of the audiovisual sector, the adopted text also stresses the urgent need to implement the Media Invest initiative, which should mobilise €400 million to support independent production and distribution companies.
According to the information provided in the Commission’s action plan, the aim would be to raise this amount over the next 7 years, through a dedicated investment platform, which will have to mobilise private investors. It will be launched with funds from the Creative Europe programme and the InvestEU Fund (see EUROPE 12699/17).
To consult the adopted conclusions: https://bit.ly/3bGpnCy (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)