EPC media alerts: September 2008
Your monthly EU media issues update direct from Europe's leading publishers
The following document is a regularly updated schedule of EU Media issues of interest to the EPC in order to give advance warning to journalists covering EU media issues. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information: heidilambert@hlcltd.demon.co.uk.
22-25 September - Telecoms
The Parliament will vote on the telecom package during the September II
plenary sitting (22-25 September). As content is absolutely necessary for
the success of the telecommunications services, the protection of
intellectual property rights as well as the protection of privacy and
personal data will be, among other issues, the subjects of amendments to be
tabled by MEPs, on 17th September. The French presidency is aiming to reach
an agreement by 29th November with a Council common position. The European Parliament is due to debate a Regulation on the Reduction of
CO2 emissions from light-duty vehicles, setting emission performance
standards for new passenger cars. In terms of schedule: the report is in its first reading phase in the
European Parliament and the vote in the Committee on the Environment, Public
Health and Food Safety will take place on 25th September in Brussels. The Parliament Plenary is scheduled to vote on it in November and the
political agreement is expected in December 2008. In terms of content: EPC is worried about article 11 and especially the
amendments tabled on it. The EPC and publishers in general believe that Directive 199/94 is the
most appropriate instrument to govern the provision of information to
consumers for cars CO2 emissions. Some MEPs however are calling for more
advertising provisions through the Sacconi Regulation. (see below) which,
according to the EPC, is not the appropriate place to discuss issues related
to advertising. The EPC is supporting EPP-ED's request for the deletion of article 11 and
an amendment has been tabled by Rapporteur Guido Sacconi (PES, IT) which
would be supported by the EPC and which says that "From 1 January 2010, the
information provided to consumers concerning the specific CO2 emissions of
passenger cars shall be governed by Directive 1999/94/EC." Two proposed Amendments (229) that do concern us read: "From 1 January 2010, manufacturers shall ensure that labels, posters or
promotional literature and material of the type referred to in articles 3, 5
and 6 of Directive 1999/94/EC indicate the extent to which the specific
emissions of CO2 of the passenger car offered for sale differ from the
specific emissions target for that passenger car under Annex I. A minimum of 20% of the space devoted to the promotion of new cars through
the promotional literature referred to in Article 6 shall be used to provide
information to consumers, in a format that shall be approved by the
Commission, about the fuel economy
and CO2 emissions of each vehicle." ... and this one tabled by MEP
Harms: "From 1 January 2010,
manufacturers shall ensure that labels, posters or promotional literature
and material of the type referred to in articles 3, 5 and 6 of Directive
1999/94/EC indicate the extent to which the specific emissions of CO2 of the
passenger car offered for sale differ from the specific emissions target for
that passenger car under Annex I. A significant share of the total space of
advertisements and of promotional literature shall be devoted to visible,
accurate and easily comprehensible information on vehicle CO2 performance. A
standardised, regularly reviewed absolute vehicle CO2 performance label
shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with the regulatory
procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(3) not later than [6
months after the adoption of this Regulation]. A sticker with the Community
CO2 performance label shall be placed on the rear window of all new vehicles
sold in the Community as from 2012." September II Plenary- Media Pluralism During the second plenary of September the EP will vote on the own
initiative report by MEP Marianne Mikko on media pluralism and concentration
in the EU. An own initiative report has no legislative effect. For the first
time there will be new rules which will apply from the September II plenary
and on for the own initiative reports. This means that there will be an
alternative resolution by September 17th which may be negotiated with other
groups before the deadline for compromise alternative resolutions Monday 22
September. These rules are completely new and will be hard to follow, both
for the services of the EP and for the people who follow closely the
procedures. The results of the public consultation on age verification, cross media
rating and classification and social networking will be used to feed
discussions during the Safer Internet Forum 2008 which will be dedicated
to these topics. "The Safer Internet Forum is a European discussion forum for
representatives of industry, law enforcement authorities, child welfare
organisations and policy makers to exchange experience and knowledge. It
provides a platform for national co-regulatory or self-regulatory bodies
to discuss ways in which industry can contribute to creating a safer
online environment for children and fight against distribution of illegal
content, such as child abuse material." For further info:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sip/si_forum/index_en.htm. Work continues on the EU's Alcohol Platform where EPC is represented.
Discussions focused on relationship between marketing and consumption of
alcohol and the impact on young people in particular. Meanwhile October 14 is the deadline for the UK's Department of Health
and Home Office discussion with the drinks and retail industry on the
Department of Health consultation, Safe, Sensible, Social - consultation on
further action. In short: This is the only proposal for now. But the Government is not ruling out
further proposals on advertising after the mid-October publication of the
University of Sheffield's price and promotions review (ScHARR review). All parts of the consultation doc are available through the following
link:
http://www.dh.gov.uk. ICOMP is a forum for stakeholders to explore, research and discuss
challenges and concerns relating to online marketplaces, and to inform and
educate the public and stakeholders - including customers, suppliers and
decision makers. It is holding a conference on: IP Issues and their
impact on Internet Commerce - How the growth in on-line commerce has
generated a growing number of IP issues. EPC Executive Director will be speaking on online copyright. College of Commissioners to debate Communication on car advertising
following end of consultation back in July. Deadline for responses to questionnaire. A new study is expected not later than 31 December 2008 based on the
terms of the Rome II regulation that said that by the end of 2008, the
Commission should "submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the
European Economic and Social Committee a study on the situation in the
field of the law applicable to non-contractual obligations arising out of
violations of privacy and rights relating to personality, taking into
account rules relating to freedom of the press and freedom of expression
in the media, and conflict-of-law issues related to Directive 95/46/EC of
the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data
and on the free movement of such data." A study on Media Pluralism is expected to be completed by the end of
2008. A public report will follow (see below). FA Commission Communication on the indicators for media pluralism in
the EU Member States is planned for early 2009, following consultation.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media_taskforce/pluralism/index_en.htm Public consultation on this issue is over. We are now waiting for a
first draft for the Communication to come up in the beginning of 2009. Commission Recommendation expected on aspects of the Content Online
initiative, most likely focusing on multi-territorial licensing, digital
rights management and possibly ISP Cooperation with rightsholders over
illegal sharing of copyright content online. In this work plan, the Council calls for the establishment of working
groups composed of experts from Member States to invite each Presidency to
build on the achievements of the Work Plan as well as to report on the
implementation of the latter; to invite the Member States and the
Commission to regularly consult the stakeholders regarding the
implementation of the Work Plan to ensure the relevance and visibility of
the activities; to invite the Commission, in consultation with and on the
basis of voluntary contributions from Member States, to report on
developments both at mid-term and at the end of the period covered by the
Work Plan. Each Member State interested in participating in the work of the
working groups will nominate an expert as a member of a working group. The
expert should ideally have a mix of operational and policy experience in
the relevant field at a national level. Member States can invite other
experts or officials to attend the meetings of the working groups as
observers. The working groups will submit a mid-term report by July
2009 on the work carried out thus far, which will feed into the final
report on the implementation of the Council Work Plan for Culture 2008 -
2010. The Working Plan's priorities are: For each of the above priorities there are specific actions
provisioned, both for the Commission and the Member States with specific
timetable and objectives. Cultural education in schools will be of
interest as it gives space to mention copyright and respect for IPR.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st09/st09018.en08.pdf A new study is expected not later than 31 December 2008 based on the
terms of the Rome II regulation that said that by the end of 2008, the
Commission should "submit to the European Parliament, the Council and the
European Economic and Social Committee a study on the situation in the
field of the law applicable to non-contractual obligations arising out of
violations of privacy and rights relating to personality, taking into
account rules relating to freedom of the press and freedom of expression
in the media, and conflict-of-law issues related to Directive 95/46/EC of
the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the
protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data
and on the free movement of such data." A study on Media Pluralism is expected to be completed by the end of
2008. A public report will follow (see below). A Commission Communication on the indicators for media pluralism in the
EU Member States is planned for early 2009, following consultation.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/media_taskforce/pluralism/index_en.htm. Public consultation on this issue is over. We are now waiting for a
first draft for the Communication to come up in the beginning of 2009. Medina Ortega is to do an own initiative report on the Commission's
report on the application of Directive 2001/29/EC on the harmonisation of
certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information
society. The timetable for the discussion within the Committee is not known yet
but it is expected that the Plenary vote will probably take place in the
week of 14/01/2009. In this work plan, the Council calls for the establishment of working
groups composed of experts from Member States to invite each Presidency to
build on the achievements of the Work Plan as well as to report on the
implementation of the latter; to invite the Member States and the
Commission to regularly consult the stakeholders regarding the
implementation of the Work Plan to ensure the relevance and visibility of
the activities; to invite the Commission, in consultation with and on the
basis of voluntary contributions from Member States, to report on
developments both at mid-term and at the end of the period covered by the
Work Plan. Each Member State interested in participating in the work of the
working groups will nominate an expert as a member of a working group. The
expert should ideally have a mix of operational and policy experience in
the relevant field at a national level. Member States can invite other
experts or officials to attend the meetings of the working groups as
observers. The working groups will submit a mid-term report by July 2009
on the work carried out thus far, which will feed into the final report on
the implementation of the Council Work Plan for Culture 2008 - 2010. The Working Plan's priorities are: For each of the above priorities there are specific actions
provisioned, both for the Commission and the Member States with specific
timetable and objectives. Cultural education in schools will be of
interest as it gives space to mention copyright and respect for IPR.
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/08/st09/st09018.en08.pdf This study will seek to identify obstacles to the access of young
people to culture as well as good practices in making this access easier. For more information please contact Dates for the diary
25 September - Car Advertising
25 September - Media Pluralism
25-26 September - Safer Internet Forum
14 October - Alcohol Advertising
23 October - Copyright
November - Car Advertising
November - Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy
November/ December 2008 - Car Advertising
31 December Latest - Rome II
End 2008 - Media Pluralism
Early 2009 - Media Pluralism
Beginning 2009 - State Aid and Public Service Broadcasters
14 January 2009 - Copyright
July 2009 - Work Plan For Culture 2008-2010
Second Half 2009 - Study on Access of Young People
More detail
22-25 September 2008 -
Telecoms
25 September - Car Advertising
25-26 September Safer
Internet Forum
October 2008 - Alcohol Advertising
23 October 2008 -
Copyright
November 2008 - Car advertising
November 2008 - Green Paper on
Knowledge Economy
31 December Latest - Rome II
End 2008 - Media Pluralism
Early 2009 for
communication - Media Pluralism
Beginning 2009 - State Aid and
Public Service Broadcasters
January 2009 - Content online
July 2009 -
Work Plan For Culture 2008-2010
31 December latest - Rome II
End 2008 - Media Pluralism
Early 2009 - Media Pluralism
Beginning 2009 - State Aid and Public Service Broadcasters
14 January 2009 - Copyright
July 2009 - Work
Plan for Culture 2008-2010
Second half 2009 - Study on Access of Young People to Culture
Angela Mills Wade, EPC Executive Director on Tel: +44 1865 310 732 or
Heidi Lambert
on Tel: +44 1245 476 265 or visit www.epceurope.org.
