25. 12. 2008

MINISTRY OF CULTURE CALLS FOR CONTRIBUTIONS IN REVISION OF EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON TRANSFRONTIER TELEVISION

Ministry of Culture of Republic of Serbia calls for active participation in the process of revising the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

European Convention on Transfrontier Television was adopted in 1989 by Council of Europe, and at the moment, it is in the process of revision. Adoption of new, altered version of the Convention is expected during 2009.

European Convention on Transfrontier Television is the first pan-European document concerned with program services embodied in transmissions. The purpose is to facilitate, among the Parties, the cross-border transmission and the retransmission of television program services. This Convention also regulates the matters of general program standards, rules on advertising and sponsorship, as well as the protection of individual rights.

More than 30 countries have ratified The Convention, including all countries in the Balkan region.

Convention on Transfrontier Television is still not confirmed by the Serbian Parliament, but its ratification is expected shortly, as the Government of Republic of Serbia adopted the Proposal of the Law on verifying the Convention and directed it to the Parliament.

As the Council of Europe intensively works on alterations of Convention on Transfrontier Television, Ministry of Culture of Republic of Serbia received an invitation from the Standing Committee (regulatory body established by the Convention) to actively involve in the process of Convention revision. It is anticipated that media outlets, media professionals and associations contribute to the revision of the Convention text by drafting and proposing concrete articles.

Articles for the Convention revision due to arrive to the address of the Ministry of Culture of Republic of Serbia by January 5th, 2009.

Additional information:

A Draft on revised version of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television