Activity Details (ID# 15850)

Activity Synopsis

The general objective of the meeting was to examine the independence and functions of the regulatory authorities for the audiovisual; accountability and transparency of the regulatory authorities for the audiovisual, and their relation with the State, the broadcasters and the public; licensing and monitoring of the broadcasters, and assuring diversity and pluralism in the audiovisual sector; regulation mechanisms provided by the newly adopted Audiovisual Code of Moldova; self-regulation in the field of the audiovisual

One practical objective was to elaborate concrete proposals and recommendations aiming at improving the implementation of the newly adopted Audiovisual Code.
 

This was the first activity focusing on the regulation in the field of the audiovisual, after the entry into force in August 2006 of the newly adopted Audiovisual Code. The discussions were very useful since the new legal framework contains a series of vague articles open to interpretations and sometimes does not provide precise mechanisms for its implementation.

The organisation of the seminar, assured by the Electronic Press Association (APEL) from Moldova, was excellent. Participants received files containing several documents, including the newly adopted Audiovisual Code, regulations concerning audiovisual sector, as well as Council of Europe documents related to the theme of the seminar, such as Rec(2000)23 of the CoE on the independence and functions of the regulatory authorities from the broadcasting sector, translated into Romanian.

The objective of the seminar was reached, the activity had a very positive impact on the participants who examined in detail the topics proposed, paying particular attention to the necessity to further develop regulation mechanisms provided by the Audiovisual Code and the need to guarantee genuine independence of CCA and ensure diversity and pluralism in the audiovisual sector of Moldova. A particular discussion was dedicated to the prospects for implementation in Moldova of the CoE Rec(2000)23 on the independence and functions of regulatory authorities for the broadcasting sector.

Contributions of the CoE experts stimulated the debates on the matter. Their presentations allowed the participants to compare principles of functioning of the regulatory authorities for the audiovisual respectively in Moldova, Latvia and Italy.
 

At the end of the seminar, participants formulated a series of conclusions and recommendations concerning the implementation of the new legal framework regulating the audiovisual sector, notably regarding the functions and competencies of the Co-ordination Council of the Audiovisual (CCA). Also, participants formulated a number of concrete proposals aiming at improving the Audiovisual Code. All proposals and recommendations have been sent to the Parliament and the CCA. 

President of the Parliament of Moldova; Members of Parliament; members and staff of the Co-ordination Council of the Audiovisual (CCA) from Moldova; radio and TV operators from Chisinau and regions of Moldova, including from TeleRadio Moldova (TRM); representatives of the international governmental (OSCE) and non-governmental (Article 19) organisations, representatives of press and civil society 

Mr Andris Mellakauls, Member of the National Broadcasting Council of Latvia; Ms Maja Cappello, Assistant to the President of the National Broadcasting Council of Italy 

Eugen Cibotaru, Media Division, DG II