Council Resolution of 19 December 2002 on interactive media content in Europe
Date: 2002-12-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: cultural policy, information technology, interactivity, mass media

C 13/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

18.1.2003

COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 19 December 2002

on interactive media content in Europe

(2003/C 13/04)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. NOTES the extensive use of interactive media especially
among the younger generations whose everyday life,
conditions and education are increasingly influenced by
computers, Internet and mobile communication services.

2. NOTES that the skills required in the information society
are changing from passive reception of knowledge to
active exploration and problem solving.

3. NOTES that interactive media can play an important role
for individual enlightenment, innovation in the public and
private sector and cultural diversity. The cultural and
linguistic diversity in Europe can and should manifest
itself in the interactive media content of the future for
the benefit of the continued development of cultures in
Europe.

4. NOTES that creative interactive media content at both a
European and a global level constitute an important and
growing market.

5. RECALLS the strategic goal set by the European Council in
Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000 that the European
and
Union should
dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable
of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs
and greater social cohesion’.

competitive

the most

‘become

6. RECALLS that the Council on several occasions has stressed
the importance of the creative industries — most recently
the Council Resolution of 25 June 2002 on a new work
plan on European cooperation in the field of culture (1)
includes as priority topics encouragement to the devel-
opment of
in the
Community and development and promotion of mobility
of persons and circulation of works in the cultural sector.

and creative

industries

cultural

7. WELCOMES the relevant studies and activities already under
way in the Community as well as at Member State level.

8. STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE in the light of the development
of the knowledge society and the development of cultural
and creative industries to ensure quality in the content for
the new media by combining artistic freedom, creativity,
innovation as well as cultural and linguistic diversity. This
is a cultural and audiovisual policy challenge that can also
be viewed in connection with an industrial policy objective

(1) OJ C 162, 6.7.2002, p. 5.

of promoting innovation and securing European busi-
nesses a fair share of the market for interactive media
content.

9. STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE of consumer protection and
youth protection in this context as well as the need to
promote access of all citizens to interactive media.

10. CONSIDERS that because interactive media content

is a
growth sector with wide-ranging cultural and media
policy perspectives but still
largely at an initial stage
when it comes to investments and revenues, there is a
need for a stronger focus within both public and private
sectors on such content as a new cultural, audiovisual and
business phenomenon.

11. RECOGNISES that the European interactive media content
industries have a large development potential, contain a
high proportion of small and medium sized companies
and need to attract finance to underpin their potential.

12. RECOGNISES the importance of public service broadcasters

for the development of interactive media content.

13. CONSIDERS that in order to combine cultural diversity and
a coherent and integrated European market for interactive
cultural content it would be advantageous to focus inter
alia on:

— frameworks for transnational European networks of
professionals contributing to the diffusion of successes,
experiences and development of competence within
the interactive media content industries in Europe,

— availability and adequacy of financing for the devel-
opment of creative interactive media content in order
to strengthen the market position of European inter-
active media content producers,

— distribution and marketing of European interactive

media content.

14.

INVITES Member States and the Commission, according to
their respective competences, to:

— collect information and experience as well as monitor
content

interactive media

development

of

the
production,

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— consider if on the basis of national experiences and
actions there is need for initiatives to exchange good
practice about
the cultural, economic and social
dimension of interactive media content,

— consider how interactive media content

industries
could benefit from enhanced possibilities to network
in order to promote competence development,

— consider if interactive content poses specific challenges
for existing national or Community actions within
development, distribution and marketing,

— consider how interactive media content should be used
for promoting and disseminating the cultural and
linguistic diversity of Europe,

— consider how the interests of consumers, in particular

of young people, are to be taken into account.

15.

INVITES the Commission to consider the cultural, linguistic
and economic challenges that interactive media content
poses at European level and to assess if there is need for
adjusted, supplementary or new Community actions to
ensure the cultural diversity and the economic devel-
opment of the sector.