Parliamentary Assembly
Assemblée parlementaire

Doc. 10901
13 April 2006

Electronic media without frontiers in Europe

Motion for a resolution
presented by Mr McIntosh and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Parliamentary Assembly recalls the importance of freedom of expression and information through the media in a democratic society. Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees that this right shall include the freedom to receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers, thus contributing to international understanding, a better knowledge of convictions and traditions, respect for the diversity of opinions and the mutual enrichment of cultures in Europe.

2.       Electronic media have a particular importance in this respect. Through satellite broadcasting and technological convergence with new communications services, electronic media have the potential to be received throughout Europe without dividing lines.

3.       The Assembly recalls that the European Convention on Transfrontier Television of the Council of Europe was the first legal instrument in Europe to create a framework for the transmission and reception of broadcasting in Europe without frontiers. This framework was further developed by the European Union through its Directive “Television without Frontiers”, which is now in the process of revision within the European Union.

4.       In view of the fact that the frontiers in Europe which could inhibit or advance freedom of information of the people of Europe are in fact those of the 46 nations of the Council of Europe, the Assembly resolves to consider the issues of regulation of electronic media in parallel with, and in collaboration with, the European Union’s “Television without Frontiers” Directive.

Signed 1:

McINTOSH, Andrew, United Kingdom, SOC
ALATALU, Toomas, Estonia, EDG
de PUIG, Lluís Maria, Spain, SOC
ETHERINGTON, Bill, United Kingdom, SOC
FOMENKO, Alexander, Russian Federation, UEL
GLĂVAN, Stefan, Romania, ALDE
GROSS, Andreas, Switzerland, SOC
HANCOCK, Michael, United Kingdom, ALDE
JAŘAB, Josef, Czech Republic, ALDE
PREDA, Cezar Florin, Romania, EPP/CD
RANDEGGER, Johannes, Switzerland, ALDE
TEKELİOĞLU, Mehmet, Turkey, EPP/CD
ŢULEA, Oleg, Moldova, SOC
Van den BRANDE, Luc, Belgium, EPP/CD
van THIJN, Ed, Netherlands, SOC
WALTER, Robert, United Kingdom, EDG
ZINGERIS, Emanuelis, Lithuania, EDG

1     SOC: Socialist Group
       EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party
       ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
       EDG: European Democratic Group
       UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
       NR: not registered in a group