[cma-l] MEPs declarations of support to the Report on Community Media

[Salvatore Scifo]

----Apologies for cross-posting---

Dear All,
you might remember that last 25 September the European Parliament, in 
plenary session in Brussels, approved the Report on Community Media in 
Europe' (A6-0263/2008, rapporteur: Karin Resetarits, Alliance for 
Liberal and Democrats in Europe (ALDE), Austria with 471 votes in favour 
to 42 against.
(available at 
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A6-2008-0263&language=EN&mode=XML)

The European Parliament has recently published the Explanations of Vote 
on its website that now includes comments from MEPs on the page
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+CRE+20080925+ITEM-008+DOC+XML+V0//EN#4-142

Hereby I attach the ones available in English:

Gyula Hegyi (PSE-Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Hungary)
‘Community media’ often plays an important role in local communities. It 
is an influential source of information amongst the local media; 
sometimes even the sole voice of local communities. That is why the 
European Union should focus more on these media, especially after the 
failure of the Lisbon Treaty, as they may serve as an efficient means to 
pass on EU related information to citizens.
As rapporteur for the report on the active dialogue with citizens on 
Europe, I fully support any kind of communication tool which may help to 
bring closer the EU to the citizens. Nevertheless, I am convinced that 
an essential precondition for community media as well as any other local 
media financed, even partially, from public funds, is to be independent 
not only from national but also from local power.
I know that community media, especially their financing, should be a 
primary concern of Member States, due to their various forms and local 
specialities. Where we may help at European level is in giving more 
visibility to the issue. This report is the first step in that direction.

Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance 
(Vice-Chairman), United Kingdom, Scottish National Party)
The Resetarits report, which I supported, makes reference to the 
importance of media in strengthening cultural and linguistic diversity. 
This week saw the launch of the first ever Gaelic language television 
channel – a welcome development in the promotion of the linguistic 
diversity of both Scotland and Europe.

David Martin (PSE, Socialist Group in the European Parliament, United 
Kingdom, Labour Party)
Community media has always had an important role to play in our society. 
Such media can promote intercultural dialogue by combating negative 
stereotypes. The EU must fully recognise this by improving Community 
media’s legal recognition and access to radio spectrum for broadcasts. I 
voted in favour of the report.


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Best Wishes,

Salvo

Editor, communitymedia.eu


www.communitymedia.eu
connecting community media research>teaching>policy>practice in Europe