Doc. 8411
7 May 1999

Restriction of religious broadcasting in the United Kingdom

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr John D. Taylor and others

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

1.       Whereas the European Convention on Human Rights requires contracting parties to ensure freedom of expression and freedom of religion, and to ensure that those rights should be enjoyed without discrimination ;

2.       Whereas access to the broadcast media is an essential aspect of freedom of expression ;

3.       Whereas UK legislation classifies organisations as « disqualified  persons » for the purposes of national licensed radio and television broadcasting, preventing them from holding national analogue broadcasting licences and excluding them from the new digital broadcasting system;

4.       Whereas United Christian Broadcasters Ltd is a UK charity with the aim of broadcasting Christian music and speech, and as a result of this ban, United Christian Broadcasters has been denied the right to be considered for a national radio broadcasting licence in the UK;

5.       Whereas United Christian Broadcasters are advised that the United Kingdom has failed to fulfil its Convention obligations and have brought a case against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Human Rights ;

6.       Whereas at the request of the United Christian Broadcasters, the Russian Federation has released certain of its radio frequencies for use in the United Kingdom ,

7.       The Parliamentary Assembly calls upon the United Kingdom Government to make such legislative changes as are necessary to allow religious organisations to be considered for a national radio broadcasting licence in the United Kingdom, to take advantage of opportunities to expand its broadcast spectrum to make frequencies available within the UK.

Signed : ¹

Taylor, United Kingdom, EPP/CD

Adamczyk, Poland, EPP/CD

Aguiar, Portugal, EPP/CD

Anusz, Poland, EPP/CD

Atkinson, United Kingdom, EDG

Brunhart, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Busic, Croatia, EPP/CD

Chapman, United Kingdom, EDG

Dayanıklı, Turkey, SOC

Diaz de Mera, Spain, EPP/CD

von der Esch, Sweden, EPP/CD

Fernandez Aguilar, Spain, EPP/CD

Frunda, Romania, EPP/CD

Gatterer, Austria, EPP/CD

Gill, United Kingdom, EDG

Janowski, Poland, EPP/CD

Kelam, Estonia, EPP/CD

Kelemen, Hungary, EPP/CD

Khukhunaishvili, Georgia, EPP/CD

Kieres, Poland, EPP/CD

Krzaklewski, Poland, EPP/CD

Kurucsai, Hungary, EPP/CD

Kuznetsov, Russia, EPP/CD

Laternser, Liechtenstein, EPP/CD

Linzer, Austria, EPP/CD

Lopez Henares, Spain, EPP/CD

Minarolli, Albania, EPP/CD

Mota Amaral, Portugal, EPP/CD

Mozetic, Slovenia, EPP/CD

Muehlemann, Switzerland, LDR

Mutman, Turkey, SOC

Paegle, Latvia, EPP/CD

Pinggera, Italy, EPP/CD

Polenta, Italy, EPP/CD

Puche, Spain, EPP/CD

Pulgar, Spain, EPP/CD

Pullicino Orlando, Malta, EPP/CD

Raskinis, Lithuania, EPP/CD

Risari, Italy, EPP/CD

Rise, Norway, EPP/CD

Robles Fraga, Spain, EPP/CD

Robol, Italy, EPP/CD

Roseta, Portugal, EPP/CD

Rusu, Moldova, EPP/CD

Sarishvili-Chanturia, Georgia, EPP/CD

Schwimmer, Austria, EPP/CD

Shuba, Russia, EPP/CD

Smorawinski, Poland, EPP/CD

Staes, Belgium, EPP/CD

Vella, Malta, EPP/CD

Wielowieyski, Poland, EPP/CD

Wilshire, United Kingdom, EDG

Wittbrodt, Poland, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group