Entry into Force of Protocol Amending European Convention on Transfrontier Television

IRIS 2002-3:1/2

Tarlach McGonagle

Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam

On 5 February, the French authorities deposited their instrument of acceptance regarding the Protocol Amending the European Convention on Transfrontier Television with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. This paved the way for the Protocol, which was originally opened for signature on 1 October 1998, to finally enter into force on 1 March. To date, the Protocol has been ratified by 23 Member States of the Council of Europe and the Holy See (which has Observer Status with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe). The Convention, as amended by the Protocol, now applies in each of these States.

The principal effect of the entry into force of the Amending Protocol will be to align the Convention more closely with the EU "Television without Frontiers" Directive. The original Convention's provisions on, inter alia, jurisdiction, access of the public to events of major importance, and advertising and tele-shopping, have all been extensively revised by the Protocol.