RESOLUTIONof the Council and of the Ministers responsible for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Councilof 13 November 1986on the European cinema and television year (1988)(86/C 320/04)

THE COUNCIL AND THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR CULTURAL AFFAIRS, MEETING WITHIN THE COUNCIL, Whereas the audiovisual media are among the chief means of conveying information and culture to the European citizen and contribute to the strengthening of the individual European cultures, as well as the European identity; Whereas Europe must be strongly represented in the making and distribution of audiovisual products, thus contributing to laying the foundations of an ever closer union amog the peoples of Europe; Whereas the European Council, at its meeting held in Milan on 28 and 29 June 1985, approved the proposal contained in the report by the ad hoc Committee on a People's Europe (paragraph 3. 7) that 1988 be declared European Cinema and Television Year; Whereas the European Parliament has underlined the importance of European initiatives in this field, notably in its resolution of 10 October 1985; Whereas the Commission informed the Council in its communication COM (86) 320 final of the aims to be pursued in the course of the 1988 European Cinema and Television Year; Whereas the Commission has already proposed a set of audiovisual actions; Whereas the Council of Europe has been actively working on audiovisual questions for many years; Note that activities are to be carried out consistently with the constitutional arrangements in each Member State; Welcome the agreement of the European Council that 1988 should be declared European Cinema and Television Year; Support the objectives and guidelines of the European Cinema and Television Year as defined in the Annex; Welcome the participation of the Council of Europe, as well as the Contracting Parties to the European Cultural Convention which are not members of the Council of Europe, in the Year and stress the importance of mutual cooperation; Note, in regard to organization, that: - the activities will be prepared and implemented through national agencies in each Member State and a European steering committee as defined in the Annex, -the Commission will be responsible for action at Community level, in accordance with the Treaty, in particular to secure the free movement of persons and products related to audiovisual activities, Note the Commission's intention to propose an appropriate credit in the 1988 preliminary draft budget; Stress the importance of adequate financial participation by the audiovisual industry as well as contributions as appropriate from other national and international sources; Call on the relevant authorities in the Member States to take appropriate steps to support the Cinema and Television Year; Request the Commission to keep them regularly informed on the progress made in implementing the Year and to submit to them, and to the European Parliament, a final report on the implementation. ANNEXGuidelines on the European Cinema and Television Year I. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the European Cinema and Television Year are to: - promote awareness, particularly among political circles, cinema and television professionals and opinion leaders, of the importance of a strong audiovisual industry, able to compete with the large overseas industries in this field, -reflect the European identity in the audiovisual media and facilitate creativity, working for a better balance among the large and small cultural areas in Europe, -promote progress within the Community in this field and the creation of conditions for the development of the European audiovisual sector, working for, inter alia, increased mobility of persons and goods connected with the audiovisual industry, -obtain better cooperation within Europe on the financing, production and distribution of audiovisual programmes and a closer partnership between cinema and television. II. ACTIVITIES TO BE UNDERTAKEN AT COMMUNITY LEVEL The detailed action arising out of the objectives will be prepared by the European steering committee. The projects selected by the national committees and the European steering committee should correspond mainly to the need to open up new paths, to seek original formulas at the European level, to rally forces which can ensure competitiveness at world level and to give a boost whose effects will be felt after the temporal limit of the year 1988. These activities could concern different aspects of the audiovisual sector. The number and scope of the activities selected at European level by the management committee will be a function mainly of the financial means available. III. ORGANIZATION The Council of Europe, as well as the Contracting Parties to the European Cultural Convention which are not members of the Council of Europe, will participate in the Year. The Commission will be responsible for action at Community level in accordance with the Treaty and its coordination with national activities. The European Cinema and Television Year will be organized with the help of the following committees: European steering committee This committee will be chaired by an eminent public figure and will comprise the chairman of the national committees and representative public figures from the fields concerned. The steering committee will be responsible for the general coordination of the programme and ensure coherence between all the various activities to be carried out, referred to in part II, as well as the selection of the projects to be undertaken at the European level. The Commission will provide the secretariat for the committee. National committees A committee will be set up in each Member State, composed of members representing the various fields concerned. Its chief task will be to promote, support and implement national projects organized for the European Cinema and Television Year in the state concerned. It will also be able to collect and administer private or public funds made available to it by various groups and bodies. In particular it will be required to identify projects as mentioned in part II and to suggest any appropriate event or activity within the framework of the European Cinema and Television Year.