Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on a European approach to media literacy in the digital environment
Date: 2008-06-06
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU Member State, Internet, digital technology, dissemination of information, education policy, mass media

C 140/8

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.6.2008

IV

(Notices)

NOTICES FROM EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS AND BODIES

COUNCIL

Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on a European approach to media literacy in the digital
environment

(2008/C 140/08)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Considering that:

— the Commission has undertaken a public consultation on
trends and

media literacy (3) and a study on ‘Current
approaches to media literacy in Europe’ (4),

— the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the
Council on key competences for lifelong learning (2006)
identifies the knowledge, skills and attitudes related to digital
competence,

— the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive calls for the
‘development of media literacy in all sections of society’ and
for close monitoring of progress in media literacy. It sets out
a reporting obligation for the Commission to measure levels
of media literacy in all the Member States (1). Criteria for the
assessment of levels of media literacy are therefore needed,

— the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 20 December 2006 on the protection of minors
and human dignity and on the right of reply in relation to
the competitiveness of the European audiovisual and on-line
information services industry (2006) already contains a
series of possible measures for promoting media literacy.

— the European Parliament has asked the Council and the
Commission ‘to develop and to implement media literacy
programmes to promote active and aware citizenship in
Europe’ (2),

— the crucial importance of media literacy has also been high-
lighted by Unesco, for instance in the ‘Grünwald Declaration
(1982) and in the Paris Agenda —
on Media Education’
twelve recommendations for media education (2007) and by
the Council of Europe in its ‘Recommendation of
the
Committee of Ministers to member states on empowering
children in the new information and communications envir-
onment’ (2006),

(1) Article 26: the Commission shall submit ‘a report on the application of
this Directive and, if necessary, make further proposals to adapt it to
developments in the field of audiovisual media services, in particular in
the light of recent technological developments, the competitiveness of
the sector and levels of media literacy in all Member States’.

(2) Resolution of 6 September 2005, on the ‘Television without Frontiers’

Directive (89/552/EEC).

1. WELCOMES

— the Commission Communication on ‘A European approach
to media literacy in the digital environment’ as a further
building block to European audiovisual policy.

2. ENDORSES

— the strategic view proposed by the European Commission of
media literacy as an important factor for active citizenship
in today's information society which can contribute towards
achieving the objectives of the Lisbon agenda.

(3) See Report on the results on the public consultation on Media

Literacy:
http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/media_literacy/docs/report_on_ml_2007.
pdf

(4) See: http://ec.europa.eu/avpolicy/media_literacy/index_en.htm

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3. RECOGNISES

— the importance of media literacy and its role to promote
citizens' active participation in the economic, cultural and
democratic life of society,

— that media literacy, particularly the capacity to critically
evaluate content,
largely conditions users' confidence in
digital technologies and media, and therefore the take-up of
ICT and media, which are defined as a priority in the ‘i2010’
strategic policy framework,

— the importance of media literate users for media pluralism

and the quality of content,

— the variety of efforts ongoing in Member States to improve
and promote media literacy even if there are differences in
practices and levels between Member States,

— the lack of common criteria and indicators for measuring

media literacy,

— the importance of identifying and promoting good practices

for the development of media literacy,

— the importance of education and training in the develop-
ment of greater media literacy and the consequent need to
improve teacher training and raise awareness among educa-
tors at all levels of education and training.

4. UNDERLINES

— the relevance of European programmes and initiatives such
the Lifelong Learning
Internet plus

as the MEDIA 2007 Programme,
Programme 2007-2013 and the
Programme,

Safer

— that future work should be based on these and related initia-
tives, towards the goal of achieving more awareness of the
importance of media literacy among citizens,

— the need for regular exchange of information, best practices
and, in the field of education, pedagogical methods between
Member States.

measure media literacy levels, taking due account of all rele-
vant work ongoing within other international organisations,

— of the Commission's intention to continue to promote the
development and exchange of good practices on media
literacy in the digital environment.

6. INVITES THE COMMISSION

— to monitor developments in this area closely and keep under
review the need for a further policy response at European
level,

— to use the Contact Committee, established under

the
in an appropriate
Audiovisual Media Services Directive,
composition, as a forum for the exchange of information
and best practices on media literacy and the provision of
input to the development of the policy agenda in this area.
Experts from the private sector and other stakeholders
should be invited to contribute to this work.

7. INVITES THE MEMBERS STATES TO

— encourage the appropriate authorities, for example those in
charge of audiovisual and electronic communication regu-
lation, to cooperate and to promote the improvement of
media literacy,

— promote and facilitate the development and implementation
of codes of conduct and other co-regulatory and self-regula-
tory initiatives in conjunction with all interested parties at
national level,

— encourage all stakeholders,

in particular within the media
and ICT sector, to carry out their own regular research into
and observation of the different aspects and dimensions of
media literacy,

— promote

awareness-raising

those
focusing specifically on the use of ICTs that are directed to
young people and their parents and involve youth organisa-
tions as well as the media,

initiatives

including

5. TAKES NOTE

— of the Commission's intention to carry out a further study
to
with the aim of developing criteria and indicators

— promote media literacy in the framework of their lifelong
learning strategies and encourage peer learning and the
exchange of good practices between teaching professionals
on this aspect of education.