EU-US Free Trade Agreement and protection of European audiovisual production
14.5.2013
Question for written answer E-005353-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Matteo Salvini (EFD) , Mara Bizzotto (EFD) , Lorenzo Fontana (EFD) , Oreste Rossi (EFD) , Fiorello Provera (EFD) , Francesco Enrico Speroni (EFD) , Claudio Morganti (EFD) , Giancarlo Scottà (EFD) , Mario Borghezio (EFD) , Lara Comi (PPE) , Paweł Zalewski (PPE) , Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmid (PPE) , Dimitar Stoyanov (NI)
Commissioner Karel de Gucht’s mandate concerning a new FTA between the European Union and the United States of America does not include any specific exemption or exclusion regarding audiovisual products and services. A free trade agreement governing free trade in audiovisual products and services between the EU and the USA would create a conflict with the existing European and national legislation, which contains several measures to promote national and European film industries.
Today there are laws imposing broadcasting quotas for European works and national TV channels, and providing economic support to local and European film industries.
The abrogation of these laws would inflict a deadly blow on European audiovisual production, considering that, without protection and financial aid, it cannot compete with the large-scale audiovisual industries in the USA and elsewhere.
As movies and audiovisual products are an integral part and an important expression of the cultures that generate them, we must point out that European audiovisual productions have a key role in protecting and promoting the culture, identity and traditions of Member States. They also contribute to the European integration process, promoting a deeper knowledge of the specific characteristics of each Member State among the people of Europe.
With this in mind:
- — Are audiovisual products and services really included in the FTA for which Commissioner De Gucht received a mandate to negotiate ?
- — If so, what does the Commission plan to do to protect the European film industry and to avoid a situation in which the audiovisual market in Europe has to lower its standards to mirror those that apply in the North American market?
OJ C 48 E, 20/02/2014