Minister for Culture Indrek Saar introduces the priorities of the Estonian Presidency in Brussels
Today, Minister of Culture Indrek Saar will participate in a session of the European Union’s Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council i, where the most significant topic under discussion will be the draft of the amendment to the audiovisual media services directive. Saar will also introduce the priorities in the fields of culture and sport the upcoming Estonian Presidency i of the Council of the EU i.
Minister of Culture Indrek Saar affirmed that for Estonia, the draft proceedings for the EU audiovisual media services directive are definitely very important.
“This legal initiative has very wide-ranging impact on the media services sector of the member states. We must ensure uniform rules of the game for the providers of media services and a more secure environment for the users, primarily children,” Saar stressed.
The minister added that, in this era of digital revolution, Estonia also wishes to focus on access to culture and cultural heritage, and in sport we wish to direct attention to the role of coaches in society, the impact of their activities on education, the promotion of health and other fields of activity. “We and our European Union partners have much to achieve in this field, but Estonia wants to share its experiences and advancements,” Saar confirmed.
At this council meeting, the most important topic in the cultural field is the amendment of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive, the draft of which is intended to arrive at a general approach regarding the directive’s proposal. An attempt will be made to better tailor legislation to the digital era, for instance, by expanding the area of application to video sharing platforms. The proposal also establishes strict obligations related to the distribution of works of European origin by on-demand services. The council will also receive the conclusions regarding the EU strategy for international cultural relations.
In the field of sport, the council will pass a resolution regarding the European Union Work Plan for Sport (2017-2020), the goal of which is to promote cooperation between policymakers and develop a dialogue with sport organisations. The agenda also includes conclusions regarding sport as an opportunity for inclusion with the help of voluntary activity.
Read more about Estonia’s priorities related to audiovisual policy, culture and sport on the Ministry of Culture website. Estonia will hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2017. Read more about the Estonian Presidency here.
More information:
Adviser for European Union Affairs
Ministry of Culture
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