Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-04-20-Speech-2-458"
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"en.20040420.20.2-458"2
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".
Firstly, as a matter of courtesy, I would like to thank the rapporteur for this own-initiative report and let me say how fascinating it is to see so many people here in the Chamber at this hour.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate what was said by my colleague Commissioner Vitorino during the debate on fundamental rights last month. The Commission is committed to ensuring that respect for all fundamental rights across the Union is properly monitored. We also very much look forward to the incorporation of the Charter into the Constitutional Treaty, giving it full legal status.
I am only sorry that this debate has not given me the opportunity to comment
as they used to say in Rome – on the ownership of the media in the country which I know best. I would have been able to express my views to Parliament about media, much of which believes passionately in nationalism except when it comes to the ownership of the media.
I would have been able to express my views about media proprietors who wish to exercise considerable political influence without ever standing for electoral office, partly because they are not citizens of the country I know best. I am sorry that I do not have the opportunity to make those points this evening. News International and Mr Murdoch are also very sorry that I do not have the opportunity to make those points, but perhaps on a future occasion there will be a plethora of members of the party with which I am associated who will press me to make those points about media ownership in the United Kingdom; and when I am encouraged to do so, I will try to ensure that Commissioner Vitorino handles the debate.
I think I am the Commissioner who has spoken most in Parliament during the life of this Commission. I have spoken quite often at this time of night; I have spoken about human rights in Africa and all sorts of issues of life and death, but I have never found as many people here at this hour as I do tonight. I envy Commissioner Vitorino, for whom I am standing in: if this is what he gets every time he speaks in the Chamber, then, my goodness, I got the wrong job in the Commission!
In the light of the fact – and this is where I come back to my policeman role -that Parliament has not yet agreed on the final shape of this report, I will reply tonight in fairly general terms and the Commission will follow up with a more detailed written response in the normal way.
The freedom of expression and information, which includes the freedom and pluralism of the media, is one of the principles common to all Member States and on which the Union is founded, as Article 6 of the Treaty on European Union states. This right is also provided for in Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It is therefore no surprise that the Commission fully agrees with the statement that a free and pluralist media sector is a prerequisite for freely functioning democracies. We all need to remain most vigilant as regards all aspects of media pluralism in the European Union.
However, I should stress that the protection of media pluralism is primarily a task for the Member States. The question of subsidiarity is crucial in this context. National measures to promote medial pluralism could, for example, include provisions determining share ownership in media companies or measures promoting culturally and linguistically diversified content.
The aim of all measures aiding media pluralism is to protect freedom of expression and to ensure that the media reflect a spectrum of views and opinions characteristic of a democratic society. At present, secondary Community legislation does not contain any provisions specifically aimed at safeguarding the pluralism of the media. However, Community law allows the application of national safeguards with regard to media pluralism. Nevertheless, a number of existing Community legal instruments contribute either directly or indirectly to the aim of preserving media pluralism. For example, the Television without Frontiers Directive contributes to the safeguarding of media pluralism through a number of content-related provisions, in particular through its provisions on the promotion of European productions and of the work of independent producers.
The Media Programme also plays an important role, whilst the application of competition rules impacts positively on media pluralism. Whilst the primary objective of Community competition law is economic – that is, to ensure workable competition between market operators – it also helps to prevent an excessive degree of control or cumulative holdings in media companies which might endanger the existence of a wide spectrum of views and opinions in the media market."@en1
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