MEPs defend European cinema by confirming CabSat mandate

The European Parliament today confirmed its position regarding the modifications to the so-called CabSat Regulation.

New rules on the exercise of copyright and related rights for certain online transmissions and retransmissions of TV and radio programmes form a part of the package to reform EU-wide copyright rules.

However, the original draft proposed by the European Commission and endorsed by the S&D Group Rapporteur Tiemo Wölken and a majority of the Leftist political groups would, consequently, have a negative impact on European cinema.

The European creative content community would find itself in a vacuum and its future would be jeopardised.

The EPP Group defends the balance between the interests of internet users and protects the European film industry at the same time, acknowledging the cultural diversity and creativity in Europe as core values that need to be safeguarded.

“The problem lies in the fact that the Commission inserted the country of origin principle to its proposal. Defending this principle means that the EU legislation would negatively affect all types of creative content - international, European and independent local productions. The Commission Vice-President responsible for the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, was not able to explain to us how European cinema would survive under the new conditions. We cannot swap the existing realities and destroy the whole industry! For us, cultural diversity and creativity in Europe are core values that need to be safeguarded”, said Angelika Niebler MEP who is responsible for the dossier in the EPP Group.

The European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee defended the line proposed by the EPP Group.

However the S&D Group Rapporteur Tiemo Wölken and some other MEPs challenged the Committee’s decision and requested the vote in plenary.

The European Parliament today confirmed the decision to enter into negotiations regarding the modifications to the CabSat Regulation.

“We agree that certain online services should be accessed by consumers in all Member States - news and current affairs programmes. But full application of the country of origin principle for all programmes will undermine the whole European creative sector vis-à-vis international competition”, concluded Angelika Niebler.