Doc. 9511

8 July 2002

Challenges facing the European audio-visual sector

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mrs Milotinova and others

1.       The deficit in the balance of trade in audiovisual products and services between Europe 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.

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. The situation is particularly preoccupying in the European countries with a developing market economy, which are flooded by low-quality low-cost productions imported from the US and Latin America.

4.       Convergence, the coming together and amalgamation of broadcasting and the Internet, has led to the creation and offering of new television and online services to the public while, at the same time, revolutionising the way traditional audiovisual works are made, distributed and shown. Ensuring fair competition amongst an increasing number of players in a context of budding new monopolies is not easy.

5.       As far as audiovisual services are concerned, it is important that cultural diversity, as an important part of daily life, and thus of the cultures, languages and historical heritage of the European continent and its individual states, is preserved in the trade liberalisation negotiations under the GATT and GATS agreements of the World Trade Organisation, as well as in the general debate on globalisation.

6.       Therefore the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers

i. examine 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 (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Milotinova, Bulgaria, NR

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Cryer, United Kingdom, SOC

de Puig, Spain, SOC

Díaz de Mera, Spain, EPP/DC

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Kiely, Ireland, LDR

Libicki, Poland, EDG

Lucyga, Germany, SOC

Malgieri, Italy, EDG

O’Hara, United Kingdom, SOC

Podgórski, Poland, SOC

Prisăcaru, Romania, SOC

Sağlam, Turkey, EPP/DC

Sudarenkov, Russia, SOC

Walter, United Kingdom, EDG

Yürür, Turkey, EDG

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