International cooperation in the field of media

Sweden has a large number of international cooperation projects in the areas of responsibility covered by the Ministry of Culture. The aim of these projects includes drawing attention to and focusing on individual issues as well as exchanging experience across national borders. Below is a presentation of some of the international organisations, councils and other bodies through which Sweden works.

The Nordic Council of Ministers

Nordic cultural cooperation aims at promoting and safeguarding diversity in cultural expression in the Nordic region, strengthening the Nordic dimension in cultural life and promoting mobility for artists and their work. A new structure for cultural cooperation is effective as of 2007. The previous approach, with many institutions, will give way to a larger portion of the cooperation that will be channelled via thematic initiatives and time-bound programmes. The aim of the new structure is for more financing to go directly to actors in the field of culture. The Nordic Cultural Fund and the Nordic Film and TV Fund will continue to allocate grants to projects, but will be supplemented by three programmes:

• the Nordic Mobility and Residence Programme
• the Nordic Art and Culture Programme
• the Nordic Game Programme

The Nordic Culture Point

To coordinate and support programme activities and the new structure, a Secretariat has been set up, called the Nordic Culture Point.

The European Union - EU

Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1995. The Union currently comprises 27 member countries. A total of 32 countries, including the EEA countries and applicant countries, are involved in the EU's work in the culture sector.

The EU does not legislate directly on culture. Cooperation takes place through various cooperation programmes and joint agreements. In the field of media, certain binding legislation is provided through the Television without Frontiers (TWF) Directive.

The day-to-day work of the EU in the area of media is dominated by the MEDIA Programme and the EU Television Directive "Television without Frontiers".

The MEDIA Programme

The MEDIA programme (Mesures pour Encourager le Développement de l'Industrie Audiovisuelle - Measures to promote the development of the audiovisual industry) supplements national efforts and provides support to the European audiovisual industry in order to boost its competitiveness and increase the circulation of European works. The previous programme was divided into two parts - further training of professionals (MEDIA Training), and development, distribution and marketing of European audiovisual works (MEDIA Plus). It ran for the period 2000-2006. A new programme, MEDIA 2007, which applies to the period 2007-2013, entered into force in January 2007. The programme is a continuation of the previous programmes, with essentially the same content. Information on the programme is provided by MEDIA Desk Sweden at the Swedish Film Institute. MEDIA Desk Sweden is partly financed by the Commission.

The Television without Frontiers Directive

The Television without Frontiers Directive contains minimum rules for cross-border television transmissions concerning European programme content, advertising and sponsorship, the protection of minors, and the right of reply. The Commission proposed amendments to the Directive in December 2005. According to these proposals, the scope of the Directive should be extended to apply to all audiovisual media services, including those that are provided at the request of an individual (on-demand services). The Commission proposes a set of basic rules for all services, supplemented by somewhat more far-reaching regulation of traditional television transmissions. A liberalisation of current rules on television advertising is proposed. The Commission's proposals are now being considered by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

The Council of Europe

The Council of Europe's most important role is to strengthen democracy, human rights and the rule of law in all its 46 member states. Work in the field of culture mainly takes place in the steering committees for education, higher education and research, culture and cultural heritage.

The Council of Europe is working proactively to promote freedom of expression, free media and media diversity in Europe. Freedom of expression and a free exchange of views that also provide scope for divergent and differing perspectives are guaranteed in a number of ways including through several European conventions.

The Ministry of Culture takes part in the work through the Steering Committee on the Mass Media and the expert group for media in crisis situations.

UNESCO

UNESCO is the UN body responsible for cooperation in education, science, culture and communications/media. All four of these programmes have poverty reduction, sustainable development and dialogue between different cultures as the overall themes for their contribution to peace. In Sweden, the Swedish National Commission for UNESCO is responsible for cooperation with government agencies, institutions and people within UNESCO's areas of activity, and serves as a link between UNESCO and Sweden.

Traditionally, issues concerning freedom of the press, libraries and archives are part of UNESCO's communications programme. This programme has three principal goals: 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 information technology.