Brussels, 15.07.2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has protested to the European Commission about media concentration in France. “There is a danger that France will follow Italy into conditions that are dangerous for democracy - when media power is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few”, the press release of 12 July states quoting EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. This initiative comes after the announcement end June of the takeover by the Dassault group (industrial armaments and aeronautics giant) of 82% of Socpressse capital, a company publishing over 70 newspapers including Le Figaro and L'Express. The purchase, EFJ recalls, was cleared by the European Commission.
Several days later, it was learnt that the leading French broadcaster, TFI (part of Bouygues, a public works company) planned to take part in up to 10% of the capital of Socpresse. Speaking through its general secretary, EFJ considers this situation “has dramatic consequences for cultural diversity and for independent journalism”. Not to mention that the alliance creates a dominant position on the advertising market.