The commission says that Bolkestein will not affect the audiovisual sector
After months of heated debate, the 'interior market and consumers' protection' commission met in Brussels on 11/22 and confirmed the main points of the Bolkestein regulation —concerning the harmonisation of national norms dealing with the free circulation of services.
In the cultural field, a few changes are worth mentioning. The parliamentary commission agreed to amend the text, as the Left and Greens suggested. So, audiovisual activities are explicitly said not to be within the ambit of the new regulation (art. 2).
Bolkestein will not apply to audiovisual services (including radio and cinema).
Amongst the other things which were amended, there is now an article (art. 3) underlining the role of sectorial legislation which ensures that it will still be one of the main sources for European norms. The 'TV without borders' regulation, for instance, will still determine the framework for the distribution of all audiovisual services; its content will not be challenged by the new situation affecting all other services.
Finally, the Bolkestein text will not infringe on the right of the member-states and the community to implement laws supporting cultural and linguistic diversity and ensuring that the media stay pluralistic (art. 1).
Coming next: the meeting of the Plenary Assembly (in January) which will vote for or against the text and the announcement by the Council of its position on the matter. This will allow a chance to measure the willingness or not to eliminate the borders hindering the circulation of services —which represents 70% of the European economy.
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