epra: regulatory authorities / links

Links

(updated on 22.08.08 )

Please scroll down for a list of commented links in the field of media policy and regulation

1. EU Institutions:

European Union

News, activities, institutions, documents, services.
http://europa.eu/index-en.htm

European Commission

Provides news (The EU day by day, on the agenda), information about key issues, EU policies by sector, a search engine, quick links, information about the Commission, its President, the Commissioners, Directorates-general and services, representations in the Member States etc.
http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm

What's new

This website contains an alphabetical listing of the main areas of activities of the European Commission from Agriculture to Taxation and Customs Union. By clicking on one of these EU topic sectors you will be directly forwarded to the "What's new"- section of that activity.
http://ec.europa.eu/geninfo/whatsnew.htm

sub-categories of special interest:

Information Society and Media DG

Provides general information (At a glance: mission & who's who), information about DG policies, DG activities, access to Thematic portal.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/information_society/index_en.htm

Information Society thematic portal

A very comprehensive site providing news, information about policies, activities, quick search, portal quick links. Possibility to register for the Newsroom email Update.
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/index_en.htm

Audiovisual and Media Policies

This newly relaunched Website contains inter alia a news section, information on audiovisual and media policies, the regulatory framework (including the Television without Frontiers Directive and the proposal for an Audiovisual Media Services Directive) ; support mechanisms (MEDIA programme) other actions (Content Online and Media Literacy) and external measures (in particular the defence of European cultural interests in the context of the World Trade Organization). The information centre provides a glossary A to Z of Audiovisual Policy, a Library including Legal documents, Case laws, Conferences, Reports, Studies and an access to relevant Links and Tender procedures.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/avpolicy/index_en.htm

Viviane Reding website (Commissioner for Information Society and Media)

Newsroom, agenda, press releases, speeches.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/commission_barroso/reding/index_en.htm

Competition DG

Deals with antitrust, mergers, liberalisation, state aid and international issues. Contains inter alia national competition legislation of EU and EEA countries, other competition sites worldwide, the EC Competition Policy Newsletter (http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/publications/cpn/).
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/index_en.html

"Merger Cases" - Website

Merger cases appear on this website of the Competition DG when they have been notified. The press release is available on the site once a merger case decision has been adopted and announced by the Commission. The website and published decisions can be searched by case number, company name etc.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/mergers/cases/

State aid - website

A useful tool: the weekly State Aid e-News presenting the latest developments in the area of State aid. It features information on new legislative texts and proposals, decisions of the European Commission and the Courts of the European Union and other state aid-related documents and events.
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/state_aid/newsletter/index.html
http://ec.europa.eu/comm/competition/state_aid/overview/

Education and Culture DG

Does not include media issues any longer. Dealing with issues pertaining to education and training, culture, civil society, multilingualism, youth and sport.
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/index_en.html

Internal Market DG

Provides information on internal market, intellectual property, media and the information society (general information, official documents, newsletter Single Market News).
General portal: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/index_en.htm
Thematic portal: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/media/index_en.htm

European Court of Justice

Presents the latest decisions since 17 July 1997 which can be searched with a search engine. Basic rules of the Court, press releases and other information are also available.
http://curia.europa.eu/en/index.htm

European Parliament

Contains a comprehensive news section, information about the organisation and powers of the Parliament, information about MEPs, about recent activies (sessions, committees...), EP live (webstreaming and programmes).
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/default_en.htm

Council of the European Union

Provides general information; a newsroom facility; contacts ; information about the Constitution; public register of Council documents; policies.
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/cms3_fo/showPage.ASP?lang=en

2. Other European and International institutions

Council of Europe

Contains a news section; information about institutions and organs of the Council of Europe; the Secretariat and its mission; the activities of the Council by area and a useful A-Z index.
http://www.coe.int/

sub-categories of special interest:

The Media and Information Society Division

Provides a news-section which informs about recent developments; information on Intergovernmental co-operation and instruments (CDMC, T-TT, Groups of specialists); the Standing Committee on Transfrontier Television (agenda, reports etc.); documentary resources and links.
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardsetting/media/

European Audiovisual Observatory

A "News" section offers an overview of news at the European Audiovisual Observatory and its network, and on the audiovisual sector in Europe, with rapid access to all new resources available on the site. The site provides access to numerous reference publications (statistical yearbook, IRIS, reports). Access to very useful (free of charge) online databases: KORDA (public funding), LUMIERE (film admissions), MERLIN (legal developments). Last but not least, access to PERSKY, a comprehensive directory of television channels in Europe. Site in English, French & German.
http://www.obs.coe.int

European Court of Human Rights

Contains general information about the Court, the list of pending cases, of scheduled public hearings, the list of judgements and their effects, all basic texts, press releases.
http://www.echr.coe.int/

OSCE - Representative on Freedom of the Media
http://www.osce.org/fom

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)/ Information & Communications Technologies
News, Activities, Reports, Statistics, newsletter.
http://www.oecd.org/topic/0,2686,en_2649_37441_1_1_1_1_37441,00.html

UNESCO / Communication and Information Sector

The Communication and Information Sector consists of the Communication Development Division, the Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace and the Information Society Division. The Sector also provides the secretariats for two intergovernmental programmes: the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) and the Information for All Programme (IFAP). The three principal strategic objectives of the programmes are promoting the free flow of ideas and universal access to information, promoting the expression of pluralism and cultural diversity in the media and world information networks
and promoting access for all to ICTs.
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=1657&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

3. Media Research Institutions

Centre for Media Policy and Development (CMPD)

Provides research and technical assistance to the media sector by supplying independent expertise. The objective of the programmes is to provide independent advice and expertise based on research that informs public policy, media company strategies and public debate.
http://www.cmpd.eu.com/

Erich Pommer Institut (EPI)

The Erich Pommer Institut organises seminars and workshops for media professionals. Very useful is the Legal Basics Database (www.legalbasics.org), which gives an overview on National and European Media Laws both in original and English language.
http://www.epi-medieninstitut.de

ECREA - European Commission Research and Education Association

ECREA was established in 2005 as a merger of the two main European associations of communication researchers, the European Communication Association (ECA) and the European Consortium for Communications Research (ECCR). The Communication Law and Policy Section aims to provide a forum for the debate and analysis of past and current policy directions in the field of media and communication.
http://www.ecrea.eu/

Hans-Bredow-Institute for Media Research

Institute for media research of the University of Hamburg, Germany. Its fields of study cover: media policy and media system, media law, media organisation and media industry, media use and media effects, and media content. The quarterly published "Recent Media Developments" is also available on this site. Comprehensive list of links related to media research, broadcasting and telecommunication authorities, broadcasters and press, online media and others.
http://www.hans-bredow-institut.de/

ICRI - Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and Information Technology

The Interdisciplinary Centre for Law and Information Technology is a research centre within the Faculty of Law at the Leuven University in Belgium. It comprises three different research teams which deal with the following areas: Information Technology Law, Electronic Communications Lax and Legal Informatics/Information Retrieval. In each of the three fields, the ICRI carries out research, consultancy and educational activities.
http://www.icri.be

International Institute of Communications (IIC)

Research on new communication technologies and their commercial, cultural and political impacts among policy-makers, regulators, academicians, content providers, technologists and industrialists. Regularly organises a Broadcasting and New Content Policy Forum, about controversial issues in the digital age and a Telecommunications Forum. "Intermedia" (Quarterly published, only by subscription).
Links to related organisations and projects that the IIC is involved in.
http://www.iicom.org

Institute of European Media Law (EMR)

Provides a newsticker, links concerning media law, background information concerning meetings etc.
http://www.emr-sb.de

Institute for Information Law (IViR)

The IViR is part of the Faculty of law of the University of Amsterdam. The activities of the IViR include research in the field of information law, training of research assistants, organizing conferences and symposia, practical training and the maintenance of a specialized library.
http://www.ivir.nl/index-english.html

IREN (International Radio Research Network)

The International Radio Research Network was created to bring together radio researchers and practitioners in Europe.
http://www.iren-info.org/?id=1

Moscow Media Law & Policy Center (MMLPC)

Its purpose is to assist by means of legal education and research the development of free and independent Russian mass media and to support in all possible ways the formation of a civil society in Russia.
http://www.medialaw.ru/e-index.html

Nordic Information Centre for Media and Communication Research (Nordicom)

Publications, databases, media statistics, UNESCO Clearing house on children and violence on the screen.
http://www.nordicom.gu.se/

Programme in Comparative Media Law & Policy (PCMLP)

Examines the processes of restructuring media and telecommunications structures from various perspectives; provides a framework for understanding the background, mechanisms, and prospects of the processes of media restructuring; and helps providing a new generation of scholars and policymakers with a sharpened comparative insight into the problems of adjustment of technology to society.
http://pcmlp.socleg.ox.ac.uk/

4. Industry & Citizen/Consumer Associations

Association of Commercial Television in Europe (ACT)

Contains information about the ACT, its members, its permanent staff, a What's New section and a list of links.
http://www.acte.be

European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

The Legal Activities section provides a number of EBU position papers
Free subscription to Eurovision Newsletter.
http://www.ebu.ch

European Group of Television Advertising (EGTA)

Contains information about the EGTA, its activities, staff, EGTA position papers, TV advertising figures, international events calender etc.
http://www.egta.com

Voice of the Listener & Viewer (VLV)

Represents the citizen and consumer interest in broadcasting and works for quality and diversity in British broadcasting. On this website you can find out about VLV's latest news, get information about events, conferences and campaigns, sign up for free e-mail information about VLV, and join VLV.

http://vlv.org.uk/

The European Alliance of Listeners' and Viewers' Associations (EURALVA)

EURALVA is an independent non-sectarian alliance of national associations, representing the interest of listeners and viewers of broadcasting and new media services, which can be received in member states of the Council of Europe.

http://www.euralva.org/

5. NGOs

Article 19

A human rights organisation with a specific mandate and focus on the defence and promotion of freedom of expression and freedom of information worldwide. Its work is organised into five Regional Programmes – Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East – and a Law Programme.
http://www.article19.org/

Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF)

A nonprofit group of lawyers, technologists, volunteers, and visionaries working to protect human rights and civil liberties in the digital world. Originally established in the US to confront cutting-edge issues and defend free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights, the EFF has recently opened a department in Brussels to monitor the developments in Europe.
http://www.eff.org

EUMAP

EU Monitoring and Advocacy Program of the Open Society Institute. Monitors the development of human rights and rule of law standards and policies both in the European Union and in its candidate and potential candidate countries. EUMAP has published monitoring reports highlighting specific areas in which state performance conforms to, or falls short of, broadly accepted international standards. These reports also examine ways in which EU standards or policy could be clarified or further articulated.
http://www.eumap.org/

Internews

Aims at improving access to information for people around the world. Its programs include: training journalists and media professionals,
supporting independent radio and TV stations, promoting an open and accessible Internet, promoting liberalized telecommunications policies, supporting fair media laws and policies, facilitating improved health and conflict reporting.
http://www.internews.org/

Open Society Institute (OSI)

A private operating and grantmaking foundation that implements a range of initiatives to promote open society by shaping government policy and supporting education, media, public health, and human and women's rights, as well as social, legal, and economic reform.
http://www.soros.org/

Press Now

Supports independent media in conflict regions and transition countries, with the aim to promote the development of open and democratic societies.
http://www.pressnow.org/

South East Europe Media Organisation - SEEMO

A South East European network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, dedicated to freedom of the press and improving the standards and practices of journalism.
http://www.seemo.org/

The South East European Network for Professionalization of the Media - SEENPM

Created in February 2000 with the aim to raise journalism standards, improve media environment on the national and regional levels, encourage cooperation among media professionals, and in this way, to contribute to the mutual understanding and stability in SEE region. SEENPM unites 18 media centers and institutes from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia and Serbia.
http://www.seenpm.org/

6. Online-Journals and Blogs

IJCLP - International Journal of Communications Law and Policy

The International Journal of Communications Law and Policy is edited by legal scholars from the Universities of Yale, Milan, Singapore, Münster and the European University Institute, Florence. The IJCLP is an electronic journal devoted to the changing law, policy and technology of media regulation around the world. It provides inter alia articles, Case Notes, Legislative and Policy Analysis and Conference Reviews.
http://www.ijclp.net/

JILT - Journal of Information Law and Technology

Online-Journal on information law which can be browsed in full text. Contains a diversity of materials including peer reviewed and non-refereed articles, work in progress, book and conference reviews. Provides a news-section and a search-engine for a keyword-search through the entire edition of the JILT.
http://elj.warwick.ac.uk/Jilt/

contentandcarrier

contentandcarrier is a webzine for researchers, lawyers, officials, students and other people working, dealing with or just being interested in European electronic communications and digital media law. It provides its readers with useful up-to-date information on the EU policy and regulatory activities and the European courts’ (ECJ and ECHR) case law in this area. Recent publications and important events related to this subject matter are presented as well. The project is carried out and realized in close affiliation with the Institute for European and Austrian Public Law.
http://www.contentandcarrier.eu/

7. Electronic Newsletters

European Journalism Centre - EJC Media News

Offers a daily updated selection of the latest developments in European and International media. The news flashes are stored in the Media News Archive which is searchable on keyword.
http://www.ejc.net/media_news/

EU business

This website contains recent news concerning economic issues in the European Union. The category "Media & Internet" provides important data for the media sector such as recent mergers for instance. In order to receive the weekly newsletter a registration free of charge is necessary.
http://www.eubusiness.com

Quicklinks

Newsletter which collects information concerning legal and regulatory aspects, market and technology of the information society from a variety of renowned european periodicals.
http://www.qlinks.net/

8. Other lists of links

List of links of the European Audiovisual Observatory

Offers an extensive list of useful links.
http://www.obs.coe.int/db/gavis/links.html

Your website is not included in this list?
Please send us an e-mail to inform us (info@epra.org). Thank you!