Council Conclusions of 17 December 1999 on the protection of minors in the light of the development of digital audiovisual services
C 8/8 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 12. 1. 2000 (7) STRESSES that social protection which guarantees an adequate safety net for all citizens is also an investment in balanced economic development and a significant competitive economy; relating to finance are RECOGNISES that social protection common to all mentioned in point 6; the aspects the objectives of globalising advantage in a In addition to the broad four objectives for the development of social protection arrangements set out by the Commission, (8) also EMPHASISES that equality between women and men must be mainstreamed in all activities aiming at the four objectives. This means assessing the consequences for women and men at all stages of planning, decision making and follow-up relating to such activities; Furthermore, (9) EMPHASISES that the Community should pay particular attention to a balanced economic and social development in the applicant countries in the process towards an enlargement of the European Union; and the social participation of all sectors of the popu- lation; In order to achieve the goals of this cooperation for improving and modernising social protection, (11) SUPPORTS the Commission’s suggestion to establish a mechanism for enhanced cooperation brought about by the work of a group of high-level officials the this action. Without prejudice to implementation of Article 207 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, a group of high-level officials will examine the issues raised in the Commission’s communication and in particular prepare a in these conclusions, and will report to be submitted to the Council; for (12) UNDERLINES the necessity to create this group as soon as possible, and in the meantime asks the Member States and the Commission to designate, as soon as possible, for an interim period, high-level officials to launch the above- mentioned debate. Work should begin immediately and a progress report should be prepared in the context of the European Council in June 2000; Finally, (10) STRESSES that full advantage should be taken of new tech- nology and in particular of new information technology in the development of social welfare. At Community level, special attention should be given to activities which promote the utilisation of advanced information tech- nology in the attainment of welfare goals. This technology must benefit the development of health and social services (13) SUPPORTS the Commission’s intention to associate the European Parliament with this process; also SUPPORTS the Commission’s wish to involve the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions in this cooperation and WELCOMES the contribution of the social partners and social security institutions to this process. COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS of 17 December 1999 on the protection of minors in the light of the development of digital audiovisual services (2000/C 8/06) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Community action plan on promoting safer use of the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global networks (2); (1) RECALLING Council Recommendation 98/560/EC of 24 the competi- September 1998 on the development of the European audiovisual and information tiveness of services frameworks aimed at achieving a comparable and effective level of and protection of minors Decision No 276/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 Januay 1999 adopting a multiannual industry by promoting national and human dignity (1) (2) RECALLING also the Council Conclusions of 27 September 1999 concerning the results of the public consultation on the Convergence Green Paper (in particular the aspects relating to the media and the audiovisual sector) (3); (1) OJ L 270, 7. 10. 1998, p. 48. (2) OJ L 33, 6. 2. 1999, p. 1. (3) OJ C 283, 6. 10. 1999, p. 1. 12. 1. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 8/9 (3) BEARNING IN MIND the Council Conclusions of 27 Sep- tember 1999 on the role of self-regulation in the light of the development of new media services (1); (4) NOTING the outcome of the experts seminar on self-regu- lation in the media organised by the German Presidency, which began the debate on the possible contribution of self-regulation systems to the achievement of public interest objectives; (5) RECOGNISING that digital are developing rapidly in the Member States and that it is therefore necessary to address the implementation of relevant protective measures for minors at this stage; transmission systems television broadcasting, carried out (6) BEARING IN MIND the findings of the study on parental control of for the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Article 22(b)(2) of Council Directive 89/552/EEC of 3 October 1989 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broad- casting activities (the Television Without Frontiers Direc- tiveí) (2), and outlined in the Commission’s communi- cation to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee on this study; (7) RECOGNISES the need to adapt and complement current systems for protecting minors from harmful audiovisual content, in the light of ongoing technical, social and market developments; (8) RECOGNISES that the development of new technical means reduce the respective for parental control must not responsibilities of the various categories of operators, such as boradcasters, providers of network, access, service, content etc. , regarding the protection of minors from harmful content, and therefore; (9) CALLS ON Member States to: - bring together the industries and parties concerned such as broadcasters and operators, regulatory and sector, self-regulatory bodies software and consumer associations, in order to examine ways to achieve greater clarity in the way audiovisual content is evaluated and rated, both within and between the various sectors concerned, rating organisations audiovisual Internet in the and - continue their work to further implement the Recom- mendation cited in point 1 hereof; (10) INVITES the Commission, without prejudice to existing systems in the Member States, and where appropriate through existing Community financial instruments to: and in the Internet audiovisual rating organisations - bring together the industries and parties concerned such as broadcasters and operators, regulatory and sector, self-regulatory bodies software and consumer associations at European level, in order to examine ways to achieve greater clarity in the way audiovisual content is evaluated and rated in Europe, sectors between the both within and concerned, of support information and best practice regarding the protection of minors, exchange various and the to - encourage products them to benefit protect minors, the industry to develop user-friendly for parents and educators which enable from the technological means to - examine possible Community actions to support and supplement Member at State protecting minors from harmful audiovisual content through improved levels of media literacy and through measures to raise awareness, activities aimed - keep the effectiveness of current systems for protecting minors under review and to intensify their efforts with regard to educational and awareness measures, whilst taking full account of the work being done under the Community action plan on promoting safe use of the Internet and of developments and experience gained in the rest of the world. (1) OJ C 283, 6. 10. 1999, p. 2. (2) OJ L 298, 17. 10. 1989, p. 23. Directive as amended by Directive 97/36/EC (OJ L 202, 30. 7. 1997, p. 60)