Council Resolution

of 21 June 2001

on the need for a reinforced exchange of information and experience between the European Union and its Member States and the candidate countries within the audiovisual sector

(2001/C 281/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Taking into account:

1. that the Community and the Member States will foster cooperation with third countries and the competent international organisations in the sphere of culture, in particular the Council of Europe,

2. Council Resolution of 4 April 1995 concerning cooperation with the associated countries of central and eastern Europe in the cultural domain(1) which underlines the importance of an on-going dialogue and exchange of information with the countries in central and eastern Europe and in this context to reinforce the cultural dimension of the cooperation,

3. The Helsinki European Council's conclusions of 11 December 1999 reaffirming the inclusive nature of the accession process which now comprises 13 candidate countries, namely Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Malta, Cyprus and Turkey,

4. That in its conclusions the Nice European Council (7 to 9 December 2000) appreciated the efforts made by the candidate countries to establish the conditions for adoption, implementation and practical application of the acquis and requested the candidate countries to continue and speed up the necessary reforms to prepare themselves for accession, particularly as regards strengthening their administrative capacity, so as to be able to join the Union as soon as possible,

5. The Commission's communication of 14 December 1999 on the principles and guidelines for the Community's audiovisual policy in the digital era which emphasised that it was crucial that the candidate countries incorporate the acquis communautaire in the field of audiovisual affairs promptly and in full,

6. The constructive dialogue existing in the audiovisual field between the Union and its Member States and the candidate countries; that, in the context of this dialogue, the importance of an exchange of information and experience as well as follow-up actions have particularly been stressed in the conclusions of the conference: "The role of the audiovisual sector in the development of civil society" (Warsaw on 17-18 March 1998) and the seminar "Audiovisual policy and cultural diversity in an enlarged Europe" (Prague on 5-6 October 2000),

THEREFORE

7. UNDERLINES the importance of the audiovisual sector in an enlarged European Union and emphasises particularly its role in safeguarding general democratic values and in preserving and promoting Europe's cultural diversity,

8. EMPHASISES the importance of the exchange of information and experience in creating a favourable framework for adoption and implementation of the acquis communitaire, thus facilitating the accession negotiations,

9. NOTES the importance of reinforcing the exchange of information and experience which has hitherto taken place between the Union and its Member States and the candidate countries in the audiovisual field,

10. RECALLS that candidate countries will be required within the framework of their policies towards third countries and international organisations, particularly the World Trade Organisation, to align themselves progressively, and as quickly as possible, in the perspective of accession, to the policies and positions adopted by the Community and its Member States, and expresses the view that, in cultural and audiovisual fields, this should apply with the aim of preserving and promoting cultural diversity in Europe,

11. STRESSES that existing forums and networks in the audiovisual sector should be used for such a reinforced exchange of information and experience,

12. NOTES that means of financial cooperation between the European Union and the candidate countries, such as the Phare programme, could also be used to advantage in the audiovisual field,

13. UNDERLINES the importance of participation in Community programmes as an integral element of pre-accession strategy and, in this context, of the possibilities offered by the MEDIA programmes for the candidate countries, when their legislation is sufficiently aligned with the audiovisual acquis,

14. EMPHASISES that a reinforced exchange of information and experience should be directed at issues which are linked to the adoption and implementation of the acquis communautaire as well as at other issues of common interest in the audiovisual field. Such exchanges, would, inter alia, aim to share good practice in national audiovisual policies,

15. WELCOMES the importance which the candidate countries attach to a reinforced dialogue with the Union and its Member States,

16. INVITES the Commission, within the existing legal and financial framework and taking into the account the timetable of the enlargement process, to:

(i) reinforce the exchange of information and experience on audiovisual policy between the Union and its Member States and the candidate countries, building upon existing forums and networks;

(ii) identify issues considered important to include in such an exchange, in consultation with the Member States and the candidate countries;

(iii) further develop cooperation with the Council of Europe in order to benefit from the experience held by that organisation in this sphere and to avoid duplication of work;

(iv) report in an appropriate way to the Council on the work carried out,

17. INVITES the Member States to:

(i) promote an increased exchange of information and experience in the audiovisual sector between the Union and its Member States and the candidate countries;

(ii) cooperate with the Commission in the reinforced exchange of information and experience in the audiovisual sector.

(1) OJ C 247, 23.9.1995, p. 2.