Doc. 8661
10 March 2000

Challenges facing the European audiovisual sector

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Andrzej Urbanczyk and others

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

1.       The deficit in the balance of trade in audiovisual products and services between the countries of the European Union and North America continues to rise.

2.       Even though European countries give substantial support to their national film production each year and some countries are indeed witnessing the spectacular success of national films in their home territory, in the ranking of box-office successes across Europe European films are relatively low (14th place for the first European film in 1998).

3.       In television, indications are similar. Even in countries which have a considerable production capacity, the impact of non-European fiction programmes may be clearly demonstrated.

4.       Convergence, the coming together and amalgamation of broadcasting and the Internet, has already made its impact on the commercial side of the audiovisual industry and the new developments in this area are most likely to have legal implications. Ensuring fair competition amongst an increasing number of players in a context of budding monopolies is an obvious difficulty.

5.       The role and tasks of the public service broadcasters in this new environment also demand attention. This is why a large part of the up-coming Ministerial Conference of the Council of Europe in Krakow in June this year will be devoted to the role of the public broadcasters.

6.       The European audiovisual industry is not united and it is, furthermore, under considerable pressure from outside. The audiovisual sector demands the attention of European politicians and policy-makers as an important part of daily life, and thus of the cultures, languages and historical heritage of the European continent, as well as of its individual states.

7.       Therefore, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers

i.        examine the ways of ensuring that the European audiovisual sector will be able to face the new challenges and that it will succeed in combining market competitiveness with respect and promotion of European cultural diversity;

ii.        ensure that existing support mechanisms at European level (funding, monitoring, awards etc.) for European audiovisual production will be able in the future to carry out their functions in the most efficient way;

iii.        continue to encourage broad dialogue on the above mentioned issues with all the parties concerned.

Signed : ¹

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Baciu, Romania, SOC

Billing, Sweden EDG

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Kalkan, Turkey, EDG

Kiely, Ireland, LDR

Legendre, France, EDG

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Lucyga, Germany, SOC

Martelli, Italy, EPP/CD

Nagy, Hungary, LDR

Poptodorova, Bulgaria, SOC

Sağlam, Turkey, EPP/CD

Svec, Slovakia, LDR

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