EN Official Journal of the European Union C 228/100

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries MEDIA Mundus

COM(2008) 892 final — 2008/0258 (COD)

2009/C 228/19

On 2 February 2009, the Council decided to consult the European Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 150(4) and 157(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the

‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries MEDIA Mundus’

On 24 February 2009, the Bureau of the European Economic and Social Committee instructed the Section for Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society to prepare the Committee’s work on the subject.

Given the urgent nature of the work, the European Economic and Social Committee appointed Mr HERNÁNDEZ BATALLER as rapporteur-general at its 452nd plenary session, held on 24 and 25 March 2009 (meeting of 25 March), and adopted the following opinion by 79 votes to 5 with 3 abstentions.

1. Conclusions

1.1 The EESC welcomes the proposal for a decision and shares the need to disseminate the values and principles of democratic society and the Rule of Law, because the European Union is founded on the principles of freedom, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

1.2 The Committee considers it appropriate that the Commission should be able, when implementing the programme, to set the general implementing guidelines and selection criteria, because these are elements that do not alter fundamental aspects of the proposal for a Decision and fall within the scope of Decision 1999/468/EC.

1.3 The EESC agrees with the programme’s general aims (the competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry, the opportunities for consumer choice and cultural diversity) although the programme’s specific goals should be explained in greater detail, as they are too general, focusing as they do on the cross-border and transnational aspects.

1.3.1 Special support should be given to incorporating the new technologies into the production, distribution and marketing of audiovisual works in their different digital applications and into the circulation of audiovisual works (including new platforms such as VoD and IPTV).

1.4 The financial framework of EUR 15 million is too limited to meet the programme’s ambitious general aims and should thus be substantially increased so as to provide the European audiovisual industry with more effective support, whilst strictly applying budgetary discipline and the principles of sound financial management.

1.5 The Commission, in close cooperation with the Member States, should ensure that the programme is implemented in such a way that it dovetails with and complements other relevant Community policies, programmes and measures.

2. Background

2.1 On 9 January 2009, the European Commission presented its proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries MEDIA Mundus.

2.2 This proposal considers the European audiovisual sector’s key role in achieving the goals of the Lisbon Agenda and in the i2010 initiative under that Agenda. It also refers to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, ratified by the European Community together with 13 Member States on 18 December 2006. It is worth bearing in mind that this industry employs at least 5.8 million people, or 3.1 % of total EU-25 population.

2.3 The document notes the structural weaknesses affecting the circulation of European audiovisual works on third country markets despite the efforts that have been made to boost the industry (including technological development, the emergence of new players and distribution platforms, support for production content, etc.).

2.4 The Media Mundus programme is thus intended to complement measures carried out under other initiatives that focus more on cooperation within the EU itself (such as Media 2007, Euromed Audiovisual II and the EU-ACP programme for Cinema) as well as the limited existing international film funds.

3. Proposal for a decision

3.1 The main features of the proposal for a decision to establish an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries MEDIA Mundus are as follows:

3.1.1 This is a programme designed to fund international cooperation projects with third countries for a period running from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013. An implementing budget of EUR 15 million is planned for the programme for this period.

3.1.2 The primary aims are to encourage the creation of international networks to enable Europe to play its industrial, cultural and political role in the audiovisual field more effectively, improving competition and the circulation and exhibition of audiovisual work.

3.1.3 Each project will have a minimum of three partners, coordinated by a European professional, who will be responsible for presenting the proposal, managing the project and financial administration and implementation.

3.1.4 One of the programme’s key features concerns the continuous training and the qualifications of professionals from Europe and from the other countries involved, focusing on production, distribution, exhibition, broadcasting, marketing and storage of audiovisual works, in addition to the legal frameworks and financial systems.

3.1.5 The programme also seeks to develop measures and initiatives to promote public understanding of audiovisual works (especially amongst young people) with particular emphasis on increasing public demand for culturally diverse audiovisual content.

3.1.6 One of the programme’s most significant features where the circulation of works is concerned is to promote the programming and exhibition of European audiovisual works in third countries and of works from those countries within the European Union. This includes signing agreements with cinema operators in both the EU and third countries, encouraging them to increase programming and exhibition conditions in terms not only of the number of screenings but also of their duration and exposure.

3.1.7 Another proposal is to support partnerships between broadcasters (or Video on Demand platforms) and rights-holders, aimed at compiling packages of works for distribution on VoD platforms.

3.1.8 One of the programme’s measures is to support dubbing and subtitling for the distribution and broadcast through all available channels of European and third countries’ audiovisual works for the benefit of producers, distributors and broadcasters.

3.2 Funding awarded under the programme may not exceed 50 % of the final costs of the project to be funded, except in cases expressly provided for, where funding may be as high as 80 %.

3.2.1 Co-funding may be provided either entirely or partly in kind if the value of the contribution does not exceed the costs actually borne and is duly supported. This would also apply to premises made available for training or promotional purposes.

3.2.2 The Commission will present a Communication on the continuation of the programme to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions by 30 June 2012 at the latest and an ex-post evaluation report by 31 December 2015 at the latest.

3.2.3 The decision specifically refers to a number of the European Community’s horizontal policies that the Media Mundus programme will help to strengthen, by:

— contributing to the debate on and information about the European Union as an area of peace, prosperity and security;

— promoting the fundamental principle of freedom of expression;

— encouraging awareness of the importance of cultural diversity and multiculturalism in the world;

— enhancing the knowledge base of the European economy and contributing to strengthening the global competitiveness of the European Union;

— helping to combat all forms of discrimination based on sex, race or ethnic origin, religion or beliefs, disabilities, age or sexual orientation.