APRIL 2009 ISSUES AUDIOVISUAL HEADLINES Unlimited expansion of public broadcasters to new media threatens development of commercial players On the occasion of the European Parliament's public hearing on the role of public service broadcasting on 5 March, ENPA and other representatives of European media businesses called on the EU Institutions and Member States to ensure that principles of fair competition are properly applied in the media sector through a transparent operational framework for public broadcasting. ENPA and other stakeholders criticised the European Parliament's Culture and Education committee failure to provide a fair hearing of relevant stakeholders in this debate in view of the print/online press and the radios not having been invited to speak despite their interest to do so having been clearly voiced. Valtteri Niiranen, ENPA Director stated: "Publishers in a number of countries have been seriously affected by the activities of public service broadcasters developing what appear to be commercial activities which has resulted in publishers being forced to take their cases regarding market distortion to national authorities and where this has not been satisfactorily resolved, to European level as a last resort because so many uncertainties now exist ADVERTISING 2 Publishers criticise European Parliament's initiative to include mandatory information in advertising EQUAL TREATMENT 3 Will the European Parliament vote in favour of press freedom? regarding remits." the public broadcasting FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 3 Parliament adopt report on fundamental freedoms on the Internet TELECOMMUNICATIONS Principle of content neutrality and Amendment 138 still alive! 4 In light of the financial crisis, the durability of established business models in the commercial media sector is under pressure and it is of ever greater importance to ensure that state aid rules are properly applied to public media. This is why a market impact test is the right way forward. Only this will avoid a distortion of competition in the market. This means that the recent trend of public broadcasters expanding with new services, notably new media activities in a wide range of European countries impedes the attractiveness for private operators' investments in new services. ENPA is keen to see a well-principled updated Commission Communication presented and which ensures the diversity of the media landscape. All ENPA members have been called on to actively engage in the ENPA campaign through contacting national ministries and informing MEPs about their concerns. COMPANY LAW 4 Draft Directive on reporting on mergers and divisions ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS 5 European Paper Recycling Award 2009 ENPA 7 ENPA-FAEP Welcome Reception Including Photo Special! ENPA - NEW ADDRESS European Newspaper Publishers Association Square du Bastion 1A, Bte 3 1050 Brussels, Belgium The European Newspaper Publishers' Association (ENPA) is the main advocate of the interests of European newspaper publishing industry towards the European institutions. We represent over 5,200 national, regional and local newspaper titles, published in 23 EU Member States as well as in Norway and Switzerland and read by over 300 million Europeans a day.