Brussels, 12/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Brussels on 11 November as Council chaired by Brian Mikkelsen (see EUROPE of 9 November. P.11), EU culture ministers had exchanges of views on added value in Europe in the field of persons' mobility and the free movement of works in the cultural sector and on the content of the interactive media. But they especially agreed, as Commissioner Viviane Reding stressed at the end of the work, "to engage in discussions on a possible in-depth review of the directive on television without frontiers (TVWF)". Ministers also confirmed the appointment of Jose Antonio Jauregui and Julius Norbo as members of the Jury 2007 for the European capital of culture.
By adopting their resolution on implementing the work plan on European co-operation in the field of culture, ministers agreed to "determine whether at administrative, legislative and practical level there were obstacles to the mobility of artists, and, if so, to see how to remove them", said Brian Mikkelsen. To promote such mobility, he continued, ministers propose "developing national information services through websites, establishing networks between cultural actors and artists, inviting teachers and students to take part in Community exchange programmes, and even ensuring co-operation throughout the Union between educational institutions. The Austrian delegation made a declaration here by which it was "very disappointed that the resolution did not more clearly underpin co-operation with candidate countries, which are very important in European added value".
Ministers also adopted a resolution on the content of interactive media in Europe by which they invite "Member states and the Commission, in the framework of their respective competencies, to collect information and experiences on such content and implement good practice in the matter", and "to see how interactive content can be used to promote and disseminate cultural and linguistic diversity in Europe".
"One of the stronger elements of the Council was the discussion on a possible review of the TVWF directive, which has no deadline, but the world has changed with the introduction of digital and new technologies. It is therefore time to see whether a directive drawn up for traditional television still has any reason for being", commented Ms. Reding, adding that "its review will be strong points of the Greek and Italian presidencies". Reding then announced the publication for the end of the year of a report on the implementation of the TVWF directive, as well as a working programme, timetable of future actions with the political and professional actors in the sector. Ms. Reding added that "many ministers were of the opinion that the self-regulation method had to be used" in the field and that they granted the greatest importance to the protection of youth and cultural diversity "which is a must of the future policy".
The question of the future of cultural policy in Europe was discussed informally over lunch, said the Commissioner. "This policy will be different with enlargement, as it is certain that cultural diversity will be the only common basis of this Greater Europe". We have reached a turning point, and must therefore place front stage what culture has in common, as well as strengthening our cultural diversity in unity". She then added that the Cined@ys 2002 initiative (see EUROPE of 19 September) would be "the strong element to support this cultural diversity and its cinematographic expansion".
During the ministerial debate on TVWF, the British, Austrian, Portuguese and Italian delegations poke out openly in favour of a self-regulation system (by which the media has its own code of conduct), Spain was in favour of co-regulation (media representatives with the State). Portugal placed emphasis on the need to introduce public services in discussions on the review of the directive (which Spain opposed, considering that that had no sense at European level). The Netherlands placed emphasis on consultation with the audiovisual sector. Contrary to France, Finland and Germany spoke in favour of market liberalisation and hardly concerned themselves with the question of cultural diversity. Regarding the French memorandum in favour of a reduced VAT rate on records and sound cassettes, Mr. Mikkelsen said that "this is a debate that can only be settled at the level of the EcoFin Council". Commissioner Reding said that Mr. Bolkestein was "responsible for this matter" and undertook to "have an open consultation with the circles concerned so that elements allowing for the directive to be strengthened may be found".