Digital platforms for audiovisual services

The Council of Europe is organising a conference on new digital platforms for audiovisual services and impact on the licensing of broadcasters in Strasbourg on 13 September 2000. The event will bring together representatives from the regulatory authorities and the new media.

This follows the sixth European ministerial conference on mass media policy (which took place in Cracow on 15 and 16 June), where ministers agreed the human and democratic dimension of communication should be at the core of the intergovernmental activities of the Council of Europe.

The conference therefore aims to identify current approaches at national and international levels for the adaptation of the regulatory framework, serving as a basis for future intergovernmental work in this field.

In the declaration, 'a media policy for tomorrow', adopted at the ministerial conference, four policy areas were highlighted for the Council of Europe to develop:

- the balance between freedom of expression and information and other rights and legitimate interests;

- pluralism of media services and content;

- the promotion of social cohesion;

- adaptation of the regulatory framework for the media in the light of ongoing changes.

The conference aims to contribute towards the Council of Europe's task of defining a pan-European framework for a regulatory framework for the media. Conference reports will be published and followed up by the Council of Europe's steering committee.
For further information please contact:

Mr Rüdiger Dossow
Media Division
Directorate General of Human Rights
Council of Europe
F - 67075 Strasbourg
Tel. +33-3-88412859; Fax: +33-3-88412705
Email: rudiger.dossow@coe.int
URL: http://www.humanrights.coe.int/media(opens in new window)