Lisbon, 03/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - The informal meeting of the Culture Council which took place at the end of last week in the Portuguese capital allowed the discussion planned to take place on European cultural cooperation and the possibility of Council majority vote on cultural questions (see EUROPE of 31 March, p.5).
Certain unofficial indications however state that Ministers also discussed the refinancing of the "Media Plus" programme, and that on this subject differences between the Fifteen were confirmed. Italian minister Mrs. Giovanna Melandri, in particular, said that Spain and Italy, with the backing of France, consider that the current budget (300 million euro for a year) should be doubled to 600 million. The United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany are against this, essentially for budgetary reasons. The Commission suggests a budget of 400 million.
The ministers in favour of the increase point to the strategy defined by the Lisbon Summit over the eEurope project and that it would have no significance of the EU did not concern itself with the contents of the project too. Linking all schools to the Internet, reducing the cost of access to the Internet, providing adequate training to be able to work in a Europe of knowledge, is all very well, on condition of knowing what has to circulate on the new networks. If Europe does not invest in its books, its cinemas, etc., it will create a computer highway on which American productions will circulate. Yet, "Media Plus" is an essential instrument for European cinema; aid to production is ineffective in the absence of instruments to help distribution.
The Culture Council should discuss operationally at is session on 6 May in Brussels,.