----

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the implementation of a programme of support for the European audiovisual sector (MEDIA 2007)

(COM(2004) 470 final — 2004/0151 (COD))

(2005/C 255/07)

On 9 September 2004, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 157(3) and 150(4) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the abovementioned communication.

The Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 21 March 2005. The rapporteur was Mr Pegado Liz.

At its 416th plenary session, held on 6 and 7 April 2005 (meeting of 6 April), the European Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 133 votes, with seven abstentions.

1.   Introduction: Gist of the proposal

2.   Background

3.   General comments

4.   Specific comments

Brussels, 6 April 2005

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Anne-Marie SIGMUND

----

(1)  Council Decision 2000/821/EC of 20.12.2000, OJ L 13 of 13.1.2001.

(2)  Decision 163/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19.1.2001, OJ L 26 of 27.1.2001.

(3)  COM(2003) 725 final of 24.11.2003 and COM(2003) 802 final of 18.12.2003.

(4)  SEC(2004) 955 final of 14.7.2004.

(5)  Cf Council Decision 90/685/EC of 21.12.1990, OJ L 380 of 31.12.1990.

(6)  Council Decision 95/563/EC of 10.7.1995, OJ L 321 of 30.12.1995.

(7)  Council Decision 2000/821/EC of 20.12.2000, OJ L 13 of 17.1.2001.

(8)  Council Decision 95/564/EC of 22.12.1995, OJ L 321 of 30.12.1995.

(9)  Decision 163/2001/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19.1.2001, OJ L 26 of 27.1.2001.

(10)OJ C 256 of 2.10.1995.

(11)OJ C 168 of 16.06.2000

(12)OJ C 204 of 15.07.1996

(13)OJ C 10 of 14.1.2004

(14)  COM(2004) 171 final of 16.3.2004, OJ C 123 of 30.4.2004

(15)OJ C 74, 23.3.2005. Rapporteur: Mr Braghin.

(16)  Previously referred to in point 2.2.5

(17)  Previously referred to in point 3.5.2

(18)  Commission Decision of 14 January 2005 setting up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency for the management of Community action in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 OJ L 24 of 27.1.2005, pp 35 to 38.

(19)  As highlighted in the Commission report on The implementation and the mid-term results of the MEDIA Plus and MEDIA Training programmes (2001-2005), backed up in the conclusions of the mid-term evaluation report presented to the European Commission (Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Report on the implementation and the mid-term results of the MEDIA Plus and MEDIA Training programmes (2001-2005) and on the results of the preparatory action ‘Growth and audiovisual: i2i audiovisual’ COM(2003) 725 final, of 24.11.2003: the report entitled Mid-Term evaluation of the MEDIA Plus and MEDIA Training Programmes, drawn up by the companies APRIL/Media Consulting Group/SECOR. On the issue of positive discrimination, see item 4(7) of the executive summary: The European added value of MEDIA for countries with a low production capacity and a restricted linguistic area).

(20)  The Committee believes that, with this proposal for an amendment, the proposal for a decision under review would gain in transparency and legal certainty.

(21)OJ L 13 of 17 January 2001, p. 34 et seq.

----