Brussels, 25/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - In an interview with Le Monde on 25 January, the Commissioner for the Information Society and Audiovisuals, Viviane Reding, dealt at length with the scope and objectives of the “Television Without Borders” directive after the case of Al-Manar, the Lebanese Hezbollah television channel, which was for a time able to broadcast its programmes, but whose convention was later rescinded by the French government due to its anti-Semitic content. The Commissioner pointed out that revision of the directive would be on the agenda of a forthcoming Council towards the end of the year, and that it would be “then or never” for any amendments to be tabled in light of this affair. Viviane Reding pointed out that the directive “expressly provides, in the name of subsidiarity, for any decision on action to be up to the States”, and congratulates France for having taken on its responsibilities. She did, however, concede that “other countries might have taken the affair less seriously”. With this in mind, Commissioner Reding has taken the initiative to invite the directive's contact committee to look into the matter, to see whether the text should be added to, or whether existing provisions are sufficient to tackle a problem like Al-Manar.
Ms Reding also announced a meeting scheduled for 17 March, under her chairmanship, bringing together European legislators to discuss the possibility of including guidelines within the Television Without Borders directive. “The aim will be to bring greater coherence to the actions of the regulatory bodies, without harming their independence”, via an exchange of information and of best practice, “or by setting up a joint database”.
Ms Reding also intends to hold discussions with her colleagues on ways of protecting the European Union from programmes with racist content broadcast by third countries. She has already had a meeting with Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations, who has assured her that this issue will be taken into account “systematically” in dealings with the countries of the Mediterranean basin. Reding plans to approach the Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security Franco Frattini with a view to action against sales of Nazi insignia, which is easy to buy over the Internet. Ms Reding is, however, of the opinion that European legislation “will not be sufficient to resolve the problem”.
Commissioner Figel said that it necessary to educate the youth in schools to become aware of historical facts like the holocaust. Figel also said that they should develop information and education of the young.
Viviane Reding provided reassurances concerning fears over getting rid of guarantees provided by the TVSF Directive, following adoption of the draft directive on liberalising services in the internal market (Bolkestein directive). Reding said that the TVS directive would not be affected by the directive at all. She declared that she had asked for it to be included in the “services directive” with the application of specific directives regulating these services, she indicated informing the Monde newspaper. She declared categorically that the audio-visual component was safe.