Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 1999/784/EC concerning Community participation in the European Audiovisual Observatory (COM(2003) 763 final – 2003/0293 (COD))
Date: 2004-06-02
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU financing, European organisation, audiovisual communications policy, audiovisual industry, film industry

28.9.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 241/15

Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the ‘Proposal for a Decision of the
European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision 1999/784/EC concerning Com-
munity participation in the European Audiovisual Observatory’

(COM(2003) 763 final – 2003/0293 (COD))

(2004/C 241/03)

On 14 January 2004 the Council of the European Union decided to consult the European Economic and
Social Committee, under Article 157(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the
‘Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Decision
No 1999/784/EC concerning Community participation in the European Audiovisual Observatory’.

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 10 May 2004. The rapporteur was
Mr Green.

At its 409th plenary session of 2 and 3 June 2004 (meeting of 2 June) the European Economic and Social
Committee adopted the following opinion by 171 votes in favour, with nine abstentions.

1. Introduction

By Decision 1999/784/EC (1), the Council adopted the
1.1
proposal concerning Community participation in the European
Audiovisual Observatory for a period ending on 31 December
2004.

1.2
On 22 September 1999, the European Economic and
Social Committee endorsed the Commission proposal for Com-
munity participation.

1.3
The background to both the Commission proposal and
the Committee's endorsement of it was the audiovisual indus-
try's position as one of Europe's key strategic sectors, particu-
larly radio and television broadcasting and film production.

— The observatory's contribution to achieving these objectives
will be improved by implementing a new strategy at
present under development with Commission participation.
The appropriate observatory departments will adopt the
updated remit and the relevant financial framework at the
Implementation will start progressively in
end of 2005.
2006 at the earliest.

2.3
Taking into account the positive experience gained in
the past, which was summarised in a mid-term report (2), the
Commission feels it would be appropriate to extend the
Community's participation in the observatory for a period of
two years. This short extension will cover a critical period for
the definition of the future patterns of the observatory's activity
and can be lodged in the Community's present
financial
perspectives without any prejudice for future decisions, which
will be taken in 2006 with the full knowledge of the features of
the observatory's new remit and financial framework.

2. The Commission proposal

2.1

The Commission is proposing:

— to extend Community participation in the European Audio-
visual Observatory for two years to include 2005 and
2006;

— to maintain the annual budget at the 2004 level, i.e. EUR

235,000.

3. General comments

The proposal is prompted in particular by the following

2.2
considerations:

— The observatory's activities in the area of market statistics
and financial and legal information contribute effectively to
achieving the objectives set. Thus, it is in the Community
interest to support and consolidate both the structure of the
observatory and bilateral cooperation.

(1) OJ L 307, 2.12.1999, p. 61.

3.1
The European Economic and Social Committee origin-
ally backed the Commission's proposal for Community partici-
pation in the observatory, in the expectation that this would
help make the European audiovisual industry more competitive
by improving the transfer of economic and legal information,
providing a clearer view of the market and promoting transpar-
ency and investments in infrastructure.

(2) Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parlia-
ment and the Economic and Social Committee on the implementa-
tion of Council Decision 1999/784 EC; COM(2002) 619 final.

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Official Journal of the European Union

28.9.2004

the

3.2
The Committee feels that the overall expectations and
original reasons for endorsing the proposal remain valid, not
least
the
economy, culture and democracy. This view is substantiated,
among other things, by the report on the observatory's activ-
ities (1).

industry's key importance

audiovisual

for

4. Specific comments

4.1
The Committee feels it is important for the EU's own
industry — and for consumers — to have access to reliable and
up-to-date information of the kind produced by the observa-
tory.

The Committee feels it

4.2
that consumer
protection and copyright law should remain priority issues for
the observatory.

is important

4.3
Given that other aspects — such as support for fields of
particular interest or state aid — have already been tackled, the
the observatory consider
Committee also recommends that
addressing the fiscal environment of
the audiovisual sector
(including films).

It is vital that the observatory should be able to operate
4.4
on its current basis until a new strategy can be adopted and
put into effect in 2006.

4.5
However, the Committee does feel that a new strategy
may necessitate an increase in the budget beyond present
levels, not least with a view to putting a stronger focus on
multimedia and films.

Brussels, 2 June 2004.

5. Conclusions

5.1
The European Economic and Social Committee endorses
the Commission's proposal to extend Community participation
in the European Audiovisual Observatory for two years as this
will help strengthen the competitiveness of the Community's
industry by improving the transfer of economic
audiovisual
and legal information, providing a clearer view of the market
and promoting transparency and investments in infrastructure.

The Committee would reiterate (2)

5.2
the key strategic
importance of the EU's audiovisual sector and its impact on job
creation. The ongoing rapid advance of audiovisual industries
and sectors across the world makes the availability of sound
statistical information about this sector all the more important
and strategic.

The Committee would also reiterate (3) that the Commis-
5.3
sion should set up a European Information Society Agency to
help coordinate the various initiatives in the area of multimedia
convergence and to improve scope for more practical action in
the cultural sphere in order to defend and promote the Euro-
pean cultural identity and endow it with a political dimension.

The President

of the European Economic and Social Committee

Roger BRIESCH

(1) Report from the Commission to the Council, the European Parlia-
ment and the Economic and Social Committee on the implementa-
tion of Council Decision 1999/784/EC of 22.11.1999 concerning
Community participation in the European Audiovisual Observatory.

(2) See the Committee opinion on the Proposal for a Council Decision
establishing a European Guarantee Fund to promote cinema and
television production, OJ C 204, 15.7.1996, p. 5.

(3) See the Committee opinion on the Proposal for a Council Decision
concerning Community participation in the European Audiovisual
Observatory (COM(1999) 111 final - 99/0066 (CNS)).