Tenth Anniversary of the European Audiovisual Observatory : A conference on ''The challenge of transparency in the audiovisual sector'' - Strasbourg, 17 January 2003 Address by Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer On the occasion of the opening of the conference marking the 10th Anniversary of the European Audiovisual Observatory, 17 January 2003

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When I visited Slovakia as an Austrian politician, I was surprised to notice that the Slovaks were much better informed about Austrian politicians than about their own. Why was that? Before the Berlin Wall came down they were used to watching Austrian TV! Television without frontiers is now the title of a European directive. The fourth report of the European Commission on this directive, states that "the European Audiovisual Observatory supplied all the statistical data in this communication".

This European Audiovisual Observatory which is an extended Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe has already existed for 10 years. It has 35 members, including the European Commission and also Slovakia. So now Slovaks watch their own TV!

I am proud that the European Audiovisual Observatory works under the umbrella of the Council of Europe and its 44 member States.

I much appreciate the active involvement of the European Commission in this Partial Agreement. The European Audiovisual Observatory therefore anticipates what we currently strive for in the context of the European Union enlargement from 15 to 25 countries.

This changes the political landscape considerably. Europe needs and will need a forum where representatives from the whole continent at governmental, parliamentary, regional or local level can come together to discuss and to co-operate on an equal footing and on the largest European level possible. I firmly believe the Council of Europe already provides such a framework for a Europe without dividing lines.

The Council of Europe provides the best possible political platform between the enlarged EU and its neighbours. For the moment, the European Union only uses 8 out of 190 Council of Europe Conventions. Hence there is plenty of scope for the EU to use the Council of Europe assets for the benefit of all citizens.

The best known convention of the Council is the European Convention on Human Rights and I cannot but support the recommendations made by Working Group II, headed by Commissioner Vitorino, to create a legal basis for accession of the European Union/Communities to the ECHR. I hope that the Convention, headed by Valery Giscard d'Estaing, will use to the full the mandate received in Laeken to recommend accession of the EU to the ECHR.

Reinforcing the interlocking character of the existing European institutions will reinforce this pan-European co-operation concept.

I trust that the Convention on the future of Europe gives its political support to this joint task and clearly recommends that the EU make full use of the structures of the Council of Europe. I am convinced that this pan-European mission would be reinforced by a possible 3^rd Summit of the Heads of State and Government of member States of the Council of Europe.

This is the opportunity for me to congratulate once again the European Audiovisual Observatory on 10 years well spent and on the recognition of all media experts! I wish you continued success and fruitful work in the years ahead and, of course, a stimulating conference on the Challenge of Transparency in the Audiovisual Sector.