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EURO-MEI, the European region of UNI-MEI Global Union representing 200 000 media workers – creators, technical and administrative workers, independent, freelance and employees - issued today at its Executive Committee Meeting in Paris the following declaration:

Public audiovisual media is facing three key challenges which will determine the future of public service in Europe and the quality as well as the level of media democracy: ensuring availability and modernisation of public programmes in the online world, guaranteeing independence from governments and political parties and providing proper funding to carry out its public service missions.



Public Service and the Online World

In today’s digital world and even more in tomorrow’s citizens will be able to pull information and programmes from a wide range of distribution platforms. While preserving the capacities of public service broadcasters to offer their traditional broadcasting services we want that public service programmes and new audiovisual services are available to citizens on all platforms. We want for European citizens to have access to public audiovisual services and programmes in the online world.



If public service broadcasters will not be able to be present on new distribution platforms and are not allowed to develop new media services, a two class system of online citizens will develop: those who can afford to pay for pay services and premium content and those who will not have the means to spend on high performance equipment and pay-per-use fees of content.



We believe strongly that the European dual system of commercial and public broadcasting is unique and a tremendous success of European society. The future of an inclusive European information society based on this dual system also depends on whether public audiovisual services will be players on the new distribution platforms.



Therefore, we call on all EU Member States and the EU authorities to promote and not prevent the development of public audiovisual media services on the Internet and on other new platforms.



Independence to ensure pluralism and diversity

The independence of public service broadcasters is a cornerstone for a democratic society, pluralism and cultural diversity. Political independence is a prerequisite to the credibility and acceptance of public service broadcasting.



Therefore we call on EU Member States and the EU authorities to guarantee the independence of public service broadcasters. We urge national government not to seek taking measures, which would lead to a direct control over public service broadcasters.



Proper funding to get a good service

There is not a “one size fits all” model for financing public service broadcasting. Across Europe, funding for public service broadcasting has decreased in real terms over recent years, whereas costs have risen and new investments (for example in new media service) were necessary. Media workers have contributed to reduce costs and are often penalised for insufficient funding levels. Public service broadcasters are amongst others key in funding drama, making important events available to all citizens and provide diversity in programming. For a dynamic public service broadcasting a predictable and sustainable funding is necessary.



Therefore we call on EU Member States to ensure that public service broadcasters are properly funded in the future in order to be able to carry out their public missions. New models must be based on a licence fee and access to different resources of revenue including revenues from advertising must be allowed. Reforms at national and EU level will have to be progressive and respect the balance of the whole media sector.



This declaration has been brought about as a result of recent attacks on public service broadcasting by governments of EU Member States and the European Union:



· Most recently in France, where the government plans to cut advertising from France Télévisions from January 2009 and abolish it from 2011 totally. That will initially decrease the income by 70% restricting the future programme making capabilities of France Télévisions and hinder it to accomplish public service missions in the future. Further the government is seeking to establish direct control over the public broadcaster by appointing directly its leadership to the detriment of the broadcaster’s independence.



· In Portugal, representatives of the opposition party echoed the French government’s initiative proposing to ban all advertising from public service broadcasting (without proposing any alternative financing plan).



· In Germany the Länder try by legislation to prevent the public service broadcasting programs from having representation and presence in the internet. Baden-Württemberg’s head of government is proposing to the Länders’ joint regulatory body to ban advertising from public service broadcasting and restrict Internet services.



· In the UK where the regulator OFCOM is looking at diverting funds from the BBC to commercial broadcaster in order to allow them to make public service programmes.



· The European Commission is planning to amend the EU rules on financing this year. Under the headline of transparency and efficiency the proposals may just pursue the goal to marginalize public service broadcasting in the new audiovisual landscape. Further it is reasonable to expect that the national initiatives will spill over into discussions at EU level over the future of funding of public service broadcasting.



UNI-MEI is concerned that if the current trend continues and some of the above proposed measures become reality then public service broadcasters will not be able to fulfil their current commitments and are unlikely to be available on all platforms and will ultimately only be allowed to make programmes that the commercial broadcasters do not want to make.



UNI-MEI will highlight the dangers facing public service broadcasting and campaign throughout Europe and towards the EU institutions.



Following yesterday’s meeting of the French inter-union alliance with Commissioner Reding in Brussels, a delegation of media workers from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK came to Paris to express their support to media workers during a meeting at the headquarters of the French public service broadcaster. The delegation together with their French colleagues presented the above declaration to the French Minister of Culture and President of the EU Council of Misters of Culture and voiced their support for the position of the inter-union alliance. This support will continue along the legislative process on the new law. UNI-MEI is planning several initiatives and will organise representations to French Embassies across Europe before the vote.



In early 2009 affiliates will join in a European Action Day for PSB across Europe to raise the awareness of the public and wants to mobilise consumer and viewers & listeners organisations.



Download the press release and declaration here: