28.9.2004   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 241/15

1.1

By Decision 1999/784/EC (1), the Council adopted the proposal concerning Community participation in the European Audiovisual Observatory for a period ending on 31 December 2004.

1.2

On 22 September 1999, the European Economic and Social Committee endorsed the Commission proposal for Community participation.

1.3

The background to both the Commission proposal and the Committee's endorsement of it was the audiovisual industry's position as one of Europe's key strategic sectors, particularly radio and television broadcasting and film production.

2.1

The Commission is proposing:

2.2

The proposal is prompted in particular by the following considerations:

2.3

Taking into account the positive experience gained in the past, which was summarised in a mid-term report (2), the Commission feels it would be appropriate to extend the Community's participation in the observatory for a period of two years. This short extension will cover a critical period for the definition of the future patterns of the observatory's activity and can be lodged in the Community's present financial perspectives without any prejudice for future decisions, which will be taken in 2006 with the full knowledge of the features of the observatory's new remit and financial framework.

3.1

The European Economic and Social Committee originally backed the Commission's proposal for Community participation in the observatory, in the expectation that this would help make the European audiovisual industry more competitive by improving the transfer of economic and legal information, providing a clearer view of the market and promoting transparency and investments in infrastructure.

3.2

The Committee feels that the overall expectations and original reasons for endorsing the proposal remain valid, not least the audiovisual industry's key importance for the economy, culture and democracy. This view is substantiated, among other things, by the report on the observatory's activities (3).

4.1

The Committee feels it is important for the EU's own industry — and for consumers — to have access to reliable and up-to-date information of the kind produced by the observatory.

4.2

The Committee feels it is important that consumer protection and copyright law should remain priority issues for the observatory.

4.3

Given that other aspects — such as support for fields of particular interest or state aid — have already been tackled, the Committee also recommends that the observatory consider addressing the fiscal environment of the audiovisual sector (including films).

4.4

It is vital that the observatory should be able to operate on its current basis until a new strategy can be adopted and put into effect in 2006.

4.5

However, the Committee does feel that a new strategy may necessitate an increase in the budget beyond present levels, not least with a view to putting a stronger focus on multimedia and films.

5.1

The European Economic and Social Committee endorses the Commission's proposal to extend Community participation in the European Audiovisual Observatory for two years as this will help strengthen the competitiveness of the Community's audiovisual industry by improving the transfer of economic and legal information, providing a clearer view of the market and promoting transparency and investments in infrastructure.

5.2

The Committee would reiterate (4) the key strategic importance of the EU's audiovisual sector and its impact on job creation. The ongoing rapid advance of audiovisual industries and sectors across the world makes the availability of sound statistical information about this sector all the more important and strategic.

5.3

The Committee would also reiterate (5) that the Commission should set up a European Information Society Agency to help coordinate the various initiatives in the area of multimedia convergence and to improve scope for more practical action in the cultural sphere in order to defend and promote the European cultural identity and endow it with a political dimension.