L 336/82 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.12.2000 II (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 20 December 2000 on the implementation of a programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works (MEDIA Plus — Development, Distribution and Promotion) (2001-2005) (2000/821/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, (3)  The Report of the High-Level Group on Audiovisual Policy of 26 October 1998 entitled ‘The Digital Age: European Audiovisual Policy’ recognises the need to Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European strengthen support measures for the cinematographic Community, and in particular Article 157(3) thereof, and audiovisual industry, in particular by endowing the MEDIA programme with resources commensurate with the size and strategic importance of the industry. Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament, (4)  The challenges of production, distribution and avail- ability of European audiovisual content were the main topics discussed at the Forum on Audiovisual Policy Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social entitled ‘European content for the digital millennium’, Committee organised in Helsinki on 10 and 11 September 1999 by the Presidency-in-office in cooperation with the Commission. Whereas: () From 6 to 8 April 1998, the Commission, in coopera- (5 In the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers enti- tled ‘Audiovisual policy: Next Steps’ the Commission recognises the need for increased public support, partic- ularly at Community level, for strengthening the competitiveness of the European audiovisual industry. tion with the Presidency-in-office, held a European audiovisual conference on ‘Challenges and opportunities of the digital age’ in Birmingham. This consultation process revealed the need for an enhanced programme of support for the European audiovisual industry, in particular in the area of the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works. More- over, in the digital age, activities in the audiovisual field (6)  The Green Paper on the ‘The Convergence of the Tele- also contribute towards the creation of new jobs, partic- communications, Media and Information Technology ularly in the production and dissemination of audio- Sectors, and the Implications for Regulation’ underlines visual content. the risk of a shortage of good quality content on the digital and analogue television market. (20 On 28 May 1998, the Council, in approving the outcome of the European Audiovisual Conference in Birmingham, highlighted the desirability of encouraging (7)  The Commission's public consultation on the Green the development of a strong and competitive European Paper, highlighted the need to establish a framework to audiovisual programme industry, taking particular underpin the distribution and promotion of European account of Europe's cultural diversity and the specific audiovisual content for the traditional and new media in conditions obtaining in restricted linguistic areas. a digital environment.