Cyprus

European Commission : proposal for the Council decision on the participation of Cyprus in the MEDIA II programme

IRIS 1998-7:1/6

Frédéric Pinard

European Audiovisual Observatory

In accordance with the pre-membership strategy laid down on the 12 June 1995 in the Council's resolution on the association between the European Union and Cyprus, the Commission put forward a proposal for the European Council's decision to approve the agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus establishing co-operation in the audiovisual field, including Cyprus' participation in the Media II programme. The first clause of the said agreement, which is set to span the lifetime of the MEDIA II programme (until December 2000), stipulates that the Republic of Cyprus will participate in all initiatives issuing from this programme, respecting the objectives, criteria, procedures and deadlines outlined in Decisions 95/563/EC and 95/564/EC that set up the programme.

In order to do this, Cyprus must establish the appropriate national mechanisms and structures and take all necessary measures to co-ordinate and organise the implementation of the MEDIA II programme including the creation of a MEDIA unit in collaboration with the European Commission (article 4). A mixed committee will be established, with responsibility for the agreement's implementation (article 6). A follow-up is planned with regard to aligning legal texts in the audio-visual sector, in particular the Directive 89/552/EEC 'Television without Frontiers' as modified by the Directive 97/36/EC. This agreement will take effect on the first day of the month following the notification by both parties that their respective procedures have been completed.


References

  • Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Cyprus establishing co-operation in the audio-visual field including participation in the Media II programme. OJEC of 28 May 1998 No C162 : 6 - 9.


This article has been published in IRIS Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual Observatory.