Republic of Türkiye

European Commission: Report on Implementation of the acquis communautaire in Turkey

IRIS 2005-1:1/6

Kathrin Berger

Institute of European Media Law (EMR), Saarbrücken/Brussels

In its report on Turkey's progress towards EU accession, the European Commission describes inter alia the legal situation in the audiovisual sphere. The yardstick for assessing the situation in Turkey is the EC's "Television Without Frontiers" Directive. As an example of progress made in this field, the report highlights a regulation adopted in January 2004 concerning radio and television broadcasts in languages and dialects traditionally used by Turkish citizens, as a result of which it is now possible to broadcast nationwide radio and TV programmes in languages other than Turkish. However, the regulation has not yet been fully implemented. The Law on the Establishment of Radio and Television Enterprises and their Broadcasts is criticised as insufficient in terms of the provisions it contains relating to definitions, jurisdiction, freedom of reception, the promotion of European and independent works, advertising and tele-shopping, the protection of minors, and restrictions on the share of foreign capital in radio and television enterprises, all of which still pose problems. The report also calls for greater independence on the part of the regulatory body (RTÜK). The Commission's report concludes that, overall, Turkey is partly aligned with the acquis communautaire in the audiovisual sphere.