On the meeting the 25th of November the European ministers of culture decided to send a clear message to the Commission that the refit of the AVMS directive should be given high and urgent priority. The Commission should also present a proposal of a modernized copyright framework.
“This message is also a clear message to the community of regional television”, says CIRCOM Regional Secretary Dr. General Johan Lindén. “In the current works of the EU administration, be it, green papers, communications or directives, there are not any mentioning of regional television and the importance of a healthy regional media environment in the development of democracy in Europe. Regional television and media are the most important players to create a communication platform between citizens, local, regional, national and European authorities”.
“Regional television must make it clear to the Commission that the regional perspective must be given its rightful place in European legislation. Spectrum and access to broadband distribution must be guaranteed for all regional players. As it is now global and national players has the fast lane which is a threat to European minority language and culture who has its given place in regional public media”, says Dr. Johan Lindén.
According to Council the EU audiovisual policy should aim to meet the audience demand “to have immediate access to new content anywhere, any time and across all devices”, while at the same time ensuring audience protection, cultural and linguistic diversity, equal conditions for providers, and “presence and visibility” (including cross-border and across all platforms) of European works.
The council invites the Commission to assess the effectiveness of the country of origin principle and of the two-tier approach, and to determine the most effective way “to create a level playing field between all actors in the value chain”.
“But again”, says Dr. Johan Lindén “ there is no mentioning of regional perspectives."
CIRCOM Communications Coordinator
Fernando R. Ojea
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