Brussels, 23/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - After one and a half years of protracted discussions, the Council of Ministers of the EU with responsibility for audiovisual issues, meeting under the chairmanship of Bernd Neumann, the German federal minister for culture and the media, is set to adopt a political agreement on Thursday afternoon, on bringing the current “Television without Borders” directive up to date with the rapid technological and commercial developments in the audiovisual services sector. The Council will then continue its work on Friday 25. Under the chairmanship of Anette Schavan, the German federal minister for education and research, the Council's morning agenda is likely to include the adoption of conclusions on the follow-up of progress made towards achieving the Lisbon objectives in the field of education and training. In the afternoon, under the chairmanship of Ursula von der Leyen, the federal youth minister, the EU27 will adopt a resolution on “equal opportunities for all young people”, and conclusions on prospects for the future of European cooperation in the field of youth.
In early April, after many months of interinstitutional discussions, the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU took position unanimously in favour of compromise with the European Parliament (EP) on the proposed “Television without Borders” directive (which has now been re-christened “Audiovisual without Borders”). On 8 May, the EP's culture committee lent its support by a vast majority to the compromise text which resulted from the latest discussions between the German presidency, the Parliament's rapporteur, Ruth Hieronymi (EPP-ED, Germany), and the Commission. This compromise resolves the last remaining controversial points, including product placement, keeping the principle of country of origin, and the frequency of advertising breaks (for details, see EUROPE 9423).
Further to this compromise, the president of the EP's culture committee recently wrote to the Council stating the Parliament's intention of not adopting any additional amendments at second reading, which is scheduled after the summer (September or October). Under these circumstances, it is expected that the presidency will manage to reach a political agreement on Thursday, in the form of the adoption of a common position on the directive.
The Commission notes in a press release published on 23 May that “this paved the way for an early conclusion of interinstitutional negotiations leading to an 'early second reading agreement' in Parliament”. On Thursday, the EU27 are also expected to adopt a raft of conclusions on the contribution of the cultural and creative sectors to the achievement of the Lisbon objectives. (ol)