Claeys (NI), in writing. (NL) The media holdings of Silvio Berlusconi are far from ideal and could cause a conflict of interest. However, this report is far from balanced. The title alone must suggest that freedom of expression and information are in question in Italy under the Berlusconi government. That is stretching a point to say the least.

Practically all strands of political opinion in Italy are represented by their own newspapers. RAI, the State broadcaster, gives a voice both to the majority and the opposition. Indeed, even Berlusconi's own vehicles express criticism of the government. We in Belgium, where as in many other Member States, the media is concentrated in a small number of hands, can only dream of this.

A certain trend in left-wing opinion is very unhappy at the idea that they cannot entirely monopolise the media. The existence of a right-wing, or apparently right-wing, counter-force in the media is seen by them as unacceptable provocation. That is the spirit emanating from this report.