EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/315

(2004/C 84 E/0363)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0140/04

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 January 2004)

Subject: Media access in the Azores and Madeira outlying regions

As is well known, Article 299(2) of the TEU states that there shall be special measures and conditions of support for the Union's most remote regions. However, the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira (Portugal) still suffer from problems relating to media access, notably to the national television channels SIC, TVI and Canal A2.

Free-of-charge access to these national television channels, which now cover all of mainland Portugal with no conditions attached, is not guaranteed in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira. Their broadcasts are not available on an open-signal basis, and this makes it impossible to receive SIC, TVI or Canal A2 there.

Residents of those outlying regions cannot receive national television channels on the same basis as the rest of the inhabitants of Portugal. A paid-for service (TV Cabo) is the only means they have of accessing a service which is guaranteed free of charge on the mainland. In addition, the cable subscriptions are considerably higher than those paid by mainland viewers for other limited-access channels.

It is the responsibility of the Portuguese government to ensure access for residents of the outlying regions on the same conditions as mainland residents. However, under Article 299(2) of the TEU there is a strong case for Community support and funding to meet the costs of providing free and universal access to Portuguese television channels.

Can the Commission state its position on the possibility of support measures with a view to ending both this discriminatory situation over access to national media in the Azores and Madeira and TV Cabo's practice of charging higher subscriptions than those required for other limited-access channels in mainland Portugal?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 March 2004)

The Portuguese television channels' signal is distributed by an organisation which owns the television broadcasting network and which the television channel owners pay for the broadcasting service.

RTP (Radiotelevisao Portuguesa) pays that organisation for broadcasting the signal of its first channel throughout the country. The requirement to supply that channel to the whole population is among the public-service obligations stipulated by the Portuguese Government. RTP is not subject to the same requirement for channel A2, however, nor as regards mainland access to the regional channels RTP Madeira and RTP Azores).

TV Cabo, to which the Honourable Member refers, is a service supplied by a private organisation which, under agreement with a number of national and foreign channels, provides access to them for its customers throughout the country. In return for payment, that service not only provides access to the Portuguese channels referred to above but also to foreign channels, either via cable or via small dishes and individual satellite-reception equipment.

Admittedly there are differences due to geographical location as regards cost and accessibility in the more isolated regions, and this is aggravated in the remotest regions because of the distances involved. Such differences are noticed not only as regards access to Portuguese commercial television channels, but also in relation to various ‘imports’ and ‘exports’ of products, raw materials, equipment and services, and the movement of people.

However, the Commission considers that this is a matter for the national and regional authorities in Portugal and that Article 299(2) of the EC Treaty does not alter that division of responsibility. If the Portuguese authorities wish to grant aid to promote access to broadcast services, the aid must nevertheless comply with Articles 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty.

With regard to infrastructure which may be financed under the Structural Funds, decisions are taken on the basis of the priorities which the national and regional authorities and the Commission set jointly in advance, and do not cover television channel distribution objectives. That financing cannot therefore be extended to include all areas in which deficiencies are found.

According to the latest information available to the Commission, the Portuguese Government is currently examining the possibility of inducing the private channels TVI and SIC to distribute their broadcasts in clear to the Azores and Madeira regions. An agreement with those television channels could meet the wishes expressed by the Honourable Member.