Study Based on Reports and Comparative Analysis
(Europe (Council of Europe & European Union), France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Spain) 

   The Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels, has been commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to prepare a study, based on the collection of information at the European level and from a number of countries, on “Public Service Media According to Constitutional Jurisprudence”, including an analytical summary.

The contractor has opted for the preparation of six country reports covering France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Spain in order to be able to provide information on systems having different traditions and representing different stages in the implementation and development of public service media (PSM), and being characterised by a variety of legal approaches vis-à-vis the role, remit and independence. Furthermore, a report on the relevant case-law and additional instruments both of the Council of Europe and the European Union has been included.

Public service media are recognised as an important instrument to realise pluralism, which in turn builds the base of a democratic society. Having this in mind the jurisprudence is of particular interest because it elaborates on the role and remit of PSM. It is not only important to provide a picture of the present state-of-the-art in terms of protecting the freedom of broadcasting, particularly with a view to PSM; it also has to be taken into account by any legislation on public service media especially against the background of recent developments in new media services.