Geneva, 23 May 2013 – Commenting on today’s request by the EU Parliament to exclude the audiovisual sector from the EU’s transatlantic trade mandate, Ingrid Deltenre, Director General of the European Broadcasting Union, said:

“The European Parliament has made a bold call to maintain a strong and diverse audiovisual sector in Europe, I am delighted with today’s vote. It demonstrates that the institution representing the interests of Europeans is committed to supporting and preserving Europe's multi-cultural identity.”

In a Resolution adopted today, the European Parliament said it “considers it essential for the EU and its Member States to maintain the possibility of preserving and developing their cultural and audiovisual policies, and to do so in the context of their existing laws, standards and agreements; calls, therefore, for the exclusion of cultural and audiovisual services, including those provided online, to be clearly stated in the negotiating mandate.”

The resolution, which was adopted by a large majority, is in line with a position expressed by the European Broadcasting Union on Monday, 21 May 2013.

Referring to the fact that the EU Member States will have the final say on the matter in mid-June, Ms Deltenre added: “we still need guarantees however from the Council, that the audiovisual sector will be excluded from the EU’s transatlantic trade mandate”.

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