Culture, Youth and Education Briefing - February 2007

The latest Culture, Youth and Education Committee meeting was held on 28th February 2007 and the next meeting, in Brussels, will be on the 21st March 2007.

The latest topics of interest are as follows:

AUDIOVISUAL MEDIA SERVICES

With the advent of personal hard disk recorders like "Sky Plus" and on demand television, we are starting to watch TV in different ways and on our own terms. With increasing use of online technology and internet services like YouTube, television will continue to move away from the traditional broadcasting methods.

The old Television Without Frontiers (TVWF) directive (introduced in 1989) only covered traditional linear or scheduled television programmes. There is a requirement to regulate some non-linear or 'on demand' services but we must be very careful.

Labour MEPs have successfully managed to change the scope of the new Audiovisual Media Services Directive so that it only covers television and television-like services. This means that internet blogs and private correspondence will not be under the remit of the directive.

Advertising has become the big issue in the new directive. As the Directive approaches second reading there are still improvements to be made.

There could be increased restrictions on the types of products that can be advertised. In particular, there could be increased protection for minors. Advertising of foods high in sugar, fat and salt could be limited. There is still widespread debate as to whether advertising on alcohol should also be banned. At first reading parliament voted for the mildest rules possible in these areas. I would like to see stricter rules incorporated.

The AVMS Directive will be returning to the Parliament for second reading later this year.

ROAMING

Roaming is currently under discussion by the Culture Committee.

As an MEP I am all too aware of the costs of roaming. It costs UK mobile users an awful lot of money to use their mobile abroad.

British mobile phone companies are amongst the worst when it comes to roaming charges. Just as an example, British tourists in Italy are charged 50% more for mobile calls made and received there than French tourists.

Mobile phone companies must do more to bring down extortionate prices and to make their customers aware of costs. Clearly, the market has failed to bring down roaming charges; there is a need for some form of regulation. As this is an international problem, any regulation must be enforced at a European level.

If you would like more information on roaming in Europe, you can visit the Commission website:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/roaming/index_en.htm

FOOTBALL

The Culture Committee has drafted a report on the future professional football.

I think we need to be careful when it comes to regulation of football, but I do want to see greater financial transparency and to make sure that football is not overly commercialised. Football should be a game before it is a business.

The Commission, having taken into account our recommendations; will produce a white paper on sports later this year.

I will be following progress of the report carefully as it approaches Plenary.

EDUCATION FOR ALL

Last month, I attended the launch of a campaign to push free education for all by 2015.

The G8 countries have pledged billions of pounds to fighting poverty. We want 20% of this to go towards getting children into education

Education is a basic human right, and can have a major impact upon a person's quality of life. Until we can guarantee education for all we have no chance of fighting poverty.

To find out more and to offer your support visit the Campaign website at www.educationforall.org