By Zoltán Dujisin
KIEV, Mar 12 2005 (IPS)

Protection of the diversity and independence of media in Europe was proclaimed as a vital goal at the seventh ministerial conference on mass media policy organised by the Council of Europe (COE) here this week.

A resolution adopted by delegates from the 46-member COE called for the need to review existing legislation, particularly on ownership of media groups. An action plan focused on the promotion of freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of communication services and their content.

The conference held here Thursday and Friday agreed also to establish a forum to review the rights and responsibilities of media.. But that was short of a demand at a meeting of 370 non-governmental organisations earlier in the week for the creation of an independent authority in each country to protect media from political power.

Two years of negotiations preceding the conference paved the way to a consensus among member states and civil society representatives. But outside the conference hall concerns were raised about the limitations of the Council in implementing the resolutions.

The Council of Europe acts mostly as a standard-setting assembly for its members, particularly over human rights. Its resolutions are not binding.

“Unanimity is a problem,” Josef Jarab, vice-chairperson of the COE committee on culture, science and education told IPS. “Sometimes a compromise doesn’t help.” And when resolutions do get passed, approval by “prime ministers or someone delegated by them” is necessary for effective implementation, he said.

Pierre-Henri Imbert, director-general of human rights at the COE, acknowledged in his address to the conference that it was “time for the council to monitor the implementation of its policies.”

Gabriel Nissim, head of the human rights non-governmental organisation grouping within the COE raised similar concerns. “We’ve had so many declarations and action plans, and the common outcome is always few concrete results.”

Nissim sees increasing difficulties in implementing the approved action plan, partly due to an enlarged European Union that has a more commercial perspective on media.

“In certain countries the idea persists that media belong to the commercial arena, and that spectators are simple consumers,” he said. “But I believe the public should be seen as a group of media users, with an active and responsible position.”

Nissim said this responsibility had to be promoted and sustained, but that “a real consensus on how to achieve this is lacking.”

Nissim chaired the NGO forum Tuesday that sought to harmonise civil society positions ahead of the ministerial conference. The active participation of NGOs represented a change from the Council’s earlier media conferences.

The NGO forum identified the “state” and “economic power” as the main dangers to freedom and diversity in the media.

The forum said media was slipping into an ever weaker position in relation to advertisers who influence its content, and owners who buy media as an instrument to transmit their ideas.

“You can’t have the right to express your opinion just because you are rich,” Nissim said. “All citizens have that right.”

One of the few disagreements that arose over the conference resolution sfollowed a Greek-backed amendment calling for the right of the public to be informed of the identity of media owners.

A representative from the European Newspaper Association opposed the proposal, claiming there was enough in the draft resolution demanding separation between media and political power to make the amendment unnecessary.

“That’s because she represents the owners,” Nissim said. “They want to influence society without saying it.”

The conference discussed the increasing role of information technology but the difficulty of reconciling its development with the need to restrain its negative effects was clear from the vague declarations of many speakers.

“The new technologies introduce interactive communication,” said Nissim. “Instead of a ‘one-towards-many’ type, we have more multilateral communication.” But on the other hand, he said, “anyone can put what he wants on the Internet, without verification.”

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