France

France Stops the Entry into Force of the Protocol Amending the European Convention on Transfrontier Television; Lithuania Joins the Convention

IRIS 2000-9:1/4

Francisco Javier Cabrera Blázquez

European Audiovisual Observatory

On 20 September, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs notified the Secretary General of the Council of Europe of the objection of the French Government to the automatic entry into force of the Protocol amending the European Convention on Transfrontier Television.

The Protocol in Article 35, paragraph 2, foresees its entry into force following the expiry of a period of two years after the date on which it has been opened for acceptance (i.e., 1 October 2000; for more information on the Protocol see IRIS 1998-9: 4). However, those States or the European Community which expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention prior to the expiry of a period of three months after the opening for acceptance of this Protocol have the right to object to it.

In a letter to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs states that, because the French Parliament has not yet approved the ratification of the Protocol, France cannot accept its automatic entry into force. Therefore, and according to Article 35, paragraph 3, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which France has deposited its instrument of acceptance.

A week later, on 27 September, Lithuania joined the list of countries that have ratified the European Convention on Transfrontier Television and its amending Protocol. The Convention will enter into force for Lithuania on 1 January 2001.