MEPs vote today on TVWF Directive: cornerstone of broadcasting regulation in Europe
EPC welcomes scope change but disappointed about country of origin
13 December 2006
The European Publishers Council (EPC) has broadly welcomed the outcome of the European Parliament First Reading vote today in Strasbourg on the TVW/AMS directive.
EPC Executive Director Angela Mills Wade said: "In particular we welcome clarification that online press is exempt from the directive and that the scope of the directive has been narrowed to "TV and TV-like services", removing any ambiguity from the original text. We do remain concerned, however, that MEPs have voted to chip away at the country of origin principle. We are counting on the European Commission to clarify the extent of the derogations open to Member States that take steps to prohibit programming or advertising originating in other Member States. This clarification is absolutely essential for the fair and proper functioning of the internal market in audiovisual services. If the AMS directive allows for any lack of clarity in the country of origin principle, a media service provider will never know until the day he launches a service which laws he will be subject to."
Next step: The European Commission is likely to publish a revised proposal taking account of the European Parliament’s amendments some time in January and the Council is expected to adopt its Common Position at the June Culture Council meeting. There is a chance, however, that they might already start work on this at an informal Council meeting in February.
For further information, please contact Angela Mills Wade on Tel: +44 1865 310 732 or Heidi Lambert, Press Officer, on Tel: +44 1245 476 265.
