AUDIOVISUAL POLICY : MEMBER STATES URGED TO TRANSPOSE NEW TVWF DIRECTIVE.

PositionTV Without Frontiers

At the mid-way point for transposition of the new version of the TV Without Frontiers (TVWF) Directive, Romania is the only state that has applied in full the text aimed at adapting EU legislation to technological developments and new advertising techniques. The other 26 EU member states have reached various stages of transposition, according to an overview published by the European Commission, on 18 December 2008.

Some are lagging behind, however: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia and Spain "have not even launched a public consultation and are in danger of not meeting the deadline, which is the end of next year," warned the spokesman for Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding.

Other countries are examining their bills transposing the new rules. The French audiovisual bill has sparked considerable controversy because it will gradually do away with advertising on public channels. Luxembourg has announced that it has already transposed certain provisions of the new rules, notably on advertising. Austria will follow in January.

Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands and Portugal are set to put the new rules through parliamentary procedures early in 2009.

"For member states, the EU rules represent a chance to abolish outdated restrictions, to strengthen co and self-regulation, especially in advertising...

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