Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-05-09-Speech-1-114"
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"en.20050509.17.1-114"2
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".
Mr President, first I would like to congratulate and commend Mr Hegyi on his work on film heritage and on the competitiveness of related industrial activities.
My Opinion on film heritage and the competitiveness of related industrial activities allowed me to investigate the functioning of the European film industry, an industry that produces films accounting for 25% of the European market. Unfortunately, approximately 65% of the films produced are commercial productions outside the European Union, mostly in the United States. Obviously, the European film industry does not have a competitive advantage in this case. Frankly, this is not good enough. While I have no problem with American culture or with the American film industry, I believe it is important that we protect European culture and improve the European film industry in any way we can. If one looks at the success of the industry in India, Bollywood is a case in point of where it can be done and has been done.
One means of tackling this problem is through the provision of state aid. I welcome the fact that the Commission cinema communication identified the importance of state aid to the film industry as a means of promoting culture. Also, the extension of the validity period of this specific state aid to June 2007 is evidence that it provides a high degree of stability and much-needed legal certainty to the industry. For the end users, this ensures the continuation of vital support schemes such as the Irish Film Board.
I have stipulated to the Commission that higher levels of state aid should be considered in the areas of culture and difficult films. Any reduction in state aid to the film industry would be unwarranted and undesirable. State aid as a means of promoting culture is important because it means national films are shot nationally and not offshore. This helps to maintain nationally specialised skills and expertise required for audio-visual creations.
I believe that all film-making should be determined a cultural activity, thereby exempting it from the notion that it is an obstacle to the single market. I very much welcome the fact that the Commission has indicated a willingness to consider high levels of aid in the next review of the cinema communication. I hope this indication will soon be turned into application."@en1
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