Activity Details (ID# 19150)

Activity Synopsis

To set up standars to promote respect of freedom of expression and information in respect of the media and the new communication services. 

The Steering Committee on the Media and New Communication Services (CDMC) held its 5th meeting from 12 to 15 June 2007 in Strasbourg. The meeting was chaired by Mr Matthias TRAIMER (Austria).

Items requiring a decision by the Committee of Ministers

Freedom of expression and information in times of crisis: In the Action Plan adopted at the 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy (Kyiv, March 2005), the participating Ministers requested the Council of Europe to review and, if necessary, elaborate standards for the media to guarantee their freedom of expression and information in times of crisis.
In response, the CDMC prepared draft guidelines on protecting freedom of expression and information in times of crisis. The Committee of Ministers is invited to examine these draft guidelines with a view to their adoption.

Investigative journalism: In the Action Plan adopted at the 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy, the participating Ministers requested the Council of Europe to “[a]nalyse the legal and security aspects specific to investigative journalism in order to determine whether initiatives should be taken in favour of this form of journalism in a democratic society”.
In response, the CDMC prepared a draft declaration on the protection and promotion of investigative journalism. Certain issues addressed in the draft guidelines referred to in the foregoing paragraph also apply to this type of journalistic activity. The Committee of Ministers is invited to examine the draft declaration with a view to its adoption.

Freedom of expression and information in the new information and communications environment: In the Action Plan adopted at the 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy, the participating Ministers requested the Council of Europe to prepare “guidelines, inter alia, on the roles and responsibilities of intermediaries and other Internet actors in ensuring freedom of expression”.
In response, the CDMC prepared a draft recommendation on promoting freedom of expression and information in the new information and communications environment. The Committee of Ministers is invited to examine the draft recommendation with a view to its adoption.


Items submitted to the Committee of Ministers for information

Media coverage of election campaigns, taking account of development in the media and information and communication environments: In the Action Plan of the 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy, the participating Ministers requested the Council of Europe to “[examine] whether the principles contained in Recommendation No. R (99) 15 on measures concerning media coverage of election campaigns should be reviewed in the light of the development of digital broadcasting services and other new communications services”.
In response, the CDMC prepared a draft recommendation updating Recommendation No. R (99)15 on media coverage of election campaigns, taking account of the development of digital broadcasting services, on-line media and other electronic communication platforms. The Committee of Ministers is invited to take note that the draft recommendation will be presented to the Committee of Ministers with a view to its adoption at a later meeting once the Explanatory Memorandum has been finalised.

First European Ministerial Conference on the Media and New Communication Services (Reykjavik 2009): The CDMC welcomed and decided to accept the invitation of Iceland to host the Conference and expressed a preference for it to be held in Reykjavik on Thursday 28 and Friday 29 May 2009 which would immediately follow the 9th meeting of the CDMC to be held in Reykjavik on Wednesday 27 May.

Implementation of the 2003 Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet: In the framework of the terms of reference of the CDMC and its subordinate Group of Specialists on human rights in the information society (MC-S-IS), the Council of Europe undertook to “follow the implementation of the Committee of Ministers Declaration on freedom of communication on the Internet by member States”.
In response, the MC-S-IS prepared a report on the implementation of the 2003 Declaration which examined, through their responses to a questionnaire, member states’ adherence to the principles contained in the Declaration. In the sixteen member states that replied to the questionnaire, there appears to be general adherence to the provisions of the Declaration. The CDMC approved this report and decided to inform the Committee of Ministers accordingly.

Having regard to the message of the Committee of Ministers to Committees involved in intergovernmental cooperation, the CDMC would underline that this action referred to in paragraphs 2 to 5 and 7 above contribute to the implementation of Part I, Section 3 and Part II, Section 5 of the Action Plan adopted by the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe.

Defamation: The CDMC has examined the question of defamation and the issue of decriminalisation of defamation in response to Committee of Ministers instructions (of 24 November 2004) and, at its previous meeting, adopted a reply to the Committee of Ministers on this subject. During its present meeting, the CDMC took note of the observer organisation “Article 19’s” concerns regarding defamation and its views as regards the desirability of carrying out further work on the matter. The CDMC decided to come back to this matter in the future in light of developments.

Information Society, Internet governance and the public service value of the Internet: In view of the Council of Europe’s active role in contributing to and participating in the follow-up work of the United Nations on the World Summit on the Information Society, the CDMC agreed to prepare a standard-setting document on the public service value of the Internet based on relevant Council of Europe standards and bearing in mind the evolving work of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). This standard-setting document should be a key Council of Europe contribution to the 2nd IGF, to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 12 to 15 November 2007 .A draft of this document will be presented to the Committee of Ministers with a view to its adoption at a later meeting before the IGF.

Possible future mechanism for promoting respect of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights: The CDMC pursued consideration of this subject, having regard to the Parliamentary Assembly’s call to establish a specific mechanism tasked with the mandate to monitor the situation of freedom of expression and of the media in Council of Europe member states and to suggest corrective measures .

More specifically, the CDMC has considered information by the Secretariat on options available and on the functioning of other mechanisms. It also held an exchange of views with representatives of existing mechanisms: Trevor STEVENS, Executive Secretary of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT); Isil GACHET, Executive Secretary of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI); and Artemiza-Tatiana CHISCA, from the Secretariat of the Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention on National Minorities as well as Hallvard GORSETH, from the Secretariat of the Council of Europe Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (under which GRETA will be set up). The CDMC also explored with Marc SCHEUER, Director of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights, the question of overlap or duplication, and with Erik FRIBERGH, Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights, the question of risks of overlap or interference and potential for complementarity with the work of the Court.

The CDMC agreed to pursue discussions on this matter at its next meeting (27-30 November 2007) in view of clearer indications from national authorities as to whether they would in principle support the creation of a specific mechanism tasked with the mandate to monitor the situation of freedom of expression and of the media in Council of Europe member states and to suggest corrective measures, as suggested by the Parliamentary Assembly. Relevant authorities are also asked to provide their views in respect of certain choices that would need to be made in case of a decision being taken in favour of setting up such a mechanism.

Comments on Parliamentary Assembly and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Recommendations: The CDMC adopted comments on Parliamentary Assembly Recommendations 1791 (2007) on the state of Human Rights and Democracy in Europe and 1792 (2007) on fair trail issues in criminal cases concerning espionage or divulging state secrets and on the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities Recommendation 211 (2007) on freedom of assembly and expression for lesbian, gays, bisexuals and transgendered persons. It asked the Secretariat to transmit these comments to the Committee of Ministers.•

Media complaints procedures and media complaints bodies: The CDMC decided to welcome the Committee of Ministers’ decision to provide it with ad hoc terms of reference to examine and make recommendations on the operation and functioning of media complaints procedures and media complaints bodies established in member states, taking into account any difficulties faced by individuals and groups affected by statements in the media to obtain redress through these mechanisms.

Intercultural dialogue: The CDMC took note of on-going Council of Europe work on intercultural and inter-religious dialogue and underlined the important role of the media in promoting tolerance in this regard. It decided to set-up an informal working group to examine this further.

European Audiovisual Observatory: Several memberes of the CDMC expressed their deep concern regarding the lack of transparency of the decision to move the Observatory from the (former) Directorate General of Human Rights to the Directorate General of Education, Culture and Heritage, Youth and Sport. In seeking to understand the reasons for this decision, the CDMC asked the Secretariat for additional information regarding the reasons for this move.

Other issues: The CDMC took note of the ongoing work of its subordinate bodies and of relevant work of other Council of Europe bodies and held an exchange on the question of the visibility of its own work. It also took note of the progress on the revision of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television (CETS No.:132). As regards the latter, the CDMC expressed the view that it would be desirable that the revision be accorded priority (including, in budgetary terms) in order to shorten as much as possible the time between the implementation of the corresponding European Union Directive and the entry into force of the revised Convention.


 

Follow up on decisions taken during the meeting and detailed in the output. 

Representants of member states and observers.
MEMBER STATES / ETATS MEMBRES

Albania / Albanie
Mr Taip SULKO, Director, Directory for Press and Public Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Armenia/Arménie
Mr Garegin CHUGASZYAN, Executive Director, IT Foundation

Austria/Autriche
(Chair / Président)
Mr Matthias TRAIMER, Head of Department, Media Affairs and Information Society, Federal Chancellery, Constitutional Service

Mr Andreas ULRICH, Federal Chancellery, Constitutional Service

Azerbaïdjan
Mr Fuad AKHUNDOV, Public-Political Division, Presidential Administration, Head of Sector for Political Studies, BAKU

Belgium/Belgique
Mr Michael VAN DEN NEST, Service général de l'audiovisuel et des multimédias

Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bosnie-Herzégovine
Mr Emir POVLAKIC, Senior Expert for Broadcasting, Communications Regulatory Agency,

Ms Gorana IVKOVIC, Senior Expert, Lawyer for Electronic Media, Communications Regulatory Agency

Bulgaria/Bulgarie
Ms Zornitza ANGUELOVA, State Expert, Information Society Policy and Development Division, State Agency for Information Technologies and Communications

Ms Bissera ZANKOVA, Media expert, State Agency for Information Technologies and Communications

Croatia/Croatie
Ms Ivana MORIĆ, Minister Plenipotentiary, Political Analyses Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration

Cyprus/Chypre
Mr Andreas CHRISTODOULOU, Head of Media Section, Ministry of the Interior

Czech Republic/République Tchèque
Mr Artuš REJENT, Media Department, Ministry of Culture

Denmark/Danemark
Ms Vibeke G PETERSEN, Special Adviser, Ministry of Culture

Estonia/Estonie
Mr Peeter SOOKRUUS, Head of Media and Copyright Department, Ministry of Culture

Finland/Finlande
Ms Kristina HAUTALA-KAJOS, Counsellor for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education and Culture

Ms Aleksandra PARTANEN, Ministry of Transport and Communications Finland

France
Mme Martine COQUET, Chef du bureau des affaires juridiques et multilatérales, Direction de l’audiovisuel extérieur, Ministère des Affaires Etrangères

M. Frédéric DEROIN, Adjoint au chef du bureau des affaires européennes et internationales, Services du Premier Ministre, Direction du développement des médias

Mr Gabriel TAR, Chef du bureau des affairs européennes et internationales, Direction du Développement des Media,

Georgia/Géorgie
Ms Tamar KINTSURASHVILI, General Director, Public Broadcasting of Georgia,

Germany/Allemagne
Mr Tim SCHÖNBORN, Adviser for Media Affairs, Representation of the State of Rhineland-Palatinate to the European Union

Mr Bernhard MÖWES, Head of International Media Cooperation Division, Federal Government Commissioner for Cultural Affairs and the Media

Greece/Grèce
Mr Christophoros A GEORGHADJIS, Secretariat General of Information, Secretariat of Communication

Hungary/Hongrie
Dr Zachar BALÁCS

Mr Gyorgy OCSKÓ, Head of Department, Presidential Secretariat, National Radio and Television Commission

Iceland/Islande
Ms Elfa Yr GYLFADÓTTIR, Head of Division of Media, Department of Cultural affairs, Ministry of Education, Science and Culture

Ireland/Irlande
Mr Paul MULQUEEN, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Mr Kevin O’BRIEN, Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources

Latvia/Lettonie
Mr Andris MELLAKAULS, Member, Head of International Relations, National Broadcasting Council of Latvia

Ms Sanita BLOMNIECE, Head of Information Services, Department, National Broadcasting Council of Latvia

Lithuania/Lituanie
Mr Rolandas KVIETKAUSKAS, Undersecretary, Ministry of Culture

Luxembourg
Mme Isabelle MARINOV, Ministère d’Etat, Service des Médias et des Communications

Malta
Apologised / Excusé

Moldova
Ms Dorina ROMAN, Head of Mass-media and Public Relations Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration

Netherlands/Pays-Bas
F.J. (Freek) INGEN HOUSZ, Directie Media, Letteren en Bibliotheken/IPC 3400, Department for Media, Literature and Libraries/IPC 3400 ,Ministerie van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap/
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

Norway/Norvège
Mr Olav GUNTVEDT, Assistant Director General, Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs, Department of Media and Copyright

Poland/Pologne
Mr Pawel STEPKA, Senior Specialist, Department of European Policy and International Relations, National Broadcasting of Poland

Mr Wojciech KOLODZIEJCZYK, Lawyer, Legal Department, National Broacsting Council, National Broadcasting of Poland

Mr Karol JAKUBOWICZ, Expert, National Broadcasting Council

Portugal
Mr Luís Santos FERRO, Adviser, GMCS – Gabinete Para Os Meios De Comunicação Social

Romania/Roumanie
Madame Delia MUCICĂ, Senior Advisor to the President Société Romaine de Television

Russian Federation/Fédération de Russie
Mr Boris N. MALAKHOV, Deputy Director, Information and Press Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Mr Nadzhaf ABDULLAEV, Head of Division, Information and Press Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Serbia
Ms Ivana GARIĆ, Adviser, Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Serbia, Department for Media

Slovak Republic / République Slovaque
Ms Veronika STRIEŽENCOVÁ, Media and Audiovisual Department of the Ministry of Culture of Slovak Republic

Slovenia / Slovenie
Mr Skender ADEM, Undersecretary, Ministry of Culture of Republic of Slovenia

Spain/Espagne
Ms Concepción SOTO CALVO, Adviser of Audiovisual Services, State Secretariat for Telecommunications and for the Information Society

Sweden / Suede
Apologised / Excusé

Switzerland/Suisse
M. Pierre SMOLIK, Spécialiste des médias, Service des Affaires internationales, Département fédéral de l’environnement, des transports, de l’énergie et de la communication, Office fédéral de la communication

M. Frédéric RIEHL, Vice-Directeur, Office fédéral de la communication, Département fédéral de l’environnement, des transports, de l’énergie et de la communication

Mr Thomas Schneider, Service des Affaires internationales, Office fédéral de la communication

''The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia''/''L'ex-République Yougoslave de Macédoine''
Ms Vesna POPOSKA, Head of International PR Department, Government of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, Secretariat General

Turkey/Turquie
Mrs Belma ÖRS, Media Expert, Radio and Television Supreme Council

Ukraine
Ms Iryna SKLYAR, Press Attache, Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine,

United Kingdom/Royaume-Uni
Mr Karl JAGDIS, Project Manager , Broadcasting Division, Department for Culture, Media and Sport


PARTICIPANTS / PARTICIPANTS

Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations of the Council of Europe / Conférence des organisations internationales non gouvernementales du Conseil de l'Europe
Mr Gabriel NISSIM

OTHER PARTICIPANTS / AUTRES PARTICIPANTS

European Commission / Commission européenne
Mr Harald E TRETTENBREIN, Deputy Head of Unit, Audiovisual and Media Policies Unit, European Commission, Directorate General for Information Society and Media

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) / Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture (UNESCO).
Mme Sylvie COUDRAY, Spécialiste principale de programme, Division liberté d’expression, démocratie et paix

Ms Tarja TURTIA, Programme Specialist, Communication and Information Sector, Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace

OBSERVERS / OBSERVATEURS

Belarus
Mme Maria VANSHINA, Chef de la Service de Presse, Direction de l’Information du Ministère des Affaires Étrangères de Bélarus

Holy See / Saint Siège
Mr Enrique PLANAS, Expert, PC Social Communications

European Broadcasting Union / Union Européenne de Radio-Télévision
M. Jacques BRIQUEMONT, Responsable des affaires publiques, Union Européenne de Radio-Télévision

Mr Michael WAGNER, Directeur adjoint, Département des Affaires juridiques, Union Européenne de Radio-Télévision

Aticle 19
Mr Peter NOORLANDER, Senior Legal Officer, ARTICLE 19






 

SECRETARIAT

Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs / Direction Générale des Droits de l’Homme et des Affaires Juridiques

Mr Jan KLEIJSSEN, Director, Directorate of Standard-Setting, / Directeur, Direction des Activites Normatives,

Mr Hanno HARTIG, Head of Department, Directorate of Standard-Setting, / Chef du Service, Direction des Activites Normatives,

Media and Information Society Division / Division Médias et Société de l’Information
Mr Jan MALINOWSKI, Head of Division, Secretary of the CDMC, / Chef de la Division, Secrétaire du CDMC

Ms Anita VAN DE KAR, Administrative Officer,Secretary of the T-TT / Administrateur, Secrétaire du T-TT

Mr Eugen CIBOTARU, Administrative Officer, Secretary of the MC-S-PSM, / Administrateur, Secrétaire du MC-S-PSM

Mr Lee HIBBARD, Administrative Officer, Secretary of the MC-S-IS / Administrateur, Secrétaire du MC-S-IS

Mr Ivan NIKOLTCHEV, Administrative Officer, Secretary of the MC-S-IC, / Administrateur, Secrétaire du MC-S-IC

Ms Franziska KLOPFER, Programme Adviser, / Conseilleur de Programme

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) / Comité européen pour la prévention de la torture et des peines ou traitements inhumain ou dégradants (CPT)
M. Trevor STEVENS, Executive Secretary / Secrétaire exécutif

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) /Commission européenne contre le racisme et l’intolérance (ECRI)
Ms Isil GACHET, Executive Secretary / Secrétaire exécutif

Advisory Committee of the Framework Convention on National Minorities / Comité consultatif de la Convention cadre pour la protection des minorités nationales
Ms Artemiza-Tatiana CHISCA, Administrative Officer / Administrateur

Gender Equality and Anti-Trafficking Division / Division pour l’Egalité entre les femmes et les hommes et la lutte contre la traite
Mr Hallvard GORSETH, Administrative Officer / Administrateur

Registry of the European Court of Human Rights / Greffe de la Cour Européenne des Droits de l’Homme
Mr Erik FRIBERGH, Registrar / Greffier

Mr John DARCY, Assistant to Registrar / Assistant du Greffier

Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights / Bureau du Commissaire aux Droits de l’Homme
Mr Marc SCHEUER, Director / Directeur

Parliamentary Assembly / Assemblée parlementaire
Mr Rüdiger DOSSOW, Co-Secretary, Committee on Culture, Science and Education / Co-Secrétaire, Commission de la Culture, de la Science et de l’Education


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INTERPRETERS / INTERPRETES

Ms Jenny GRIFFITH
Ms Amanda BEDDOWS
Mr Jean-Louis WUNSCH
Ms Sylvie STELLMACHER