CMCS contributes to EU-study on indicators for the independence and efficiency of regulatory bodies

The Center for Media and Communications Studies (CMCS) at the Central European University is taking part in a consortium that was selected by the European Commission to carry out a study on Indicators for independence and efficient functioning of audiovisual media services regulatory bodies for the purpose of enforcing the rules in the AVMS Directive (SMART 2009/0001). The consortium includes the Hans Bredow Institute (lead contractor), the K.U. Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven), Cullen International, as well as Perspective Associates as a subcontractor. It is cooperating with a net of correspondents covering each of the 43 countries covered by the study.

The study will have three general objectives:

1.A detailed legal description and analysis of the audiovisual media services regulatory bodies in the European Union Member States, as well as in candidate and potential candidate countries to the EU and in the EFTA countries. To facilitate a comparative perspective, the regulatory system of four other countries, namely the USA, Japan, Singapore and Australia, will be analysed too.

2.An analysis of the effective implementation of the legal framework for regulatory bodies in these countries.

3.The identification of key characteristics constituting an "independent regulatory body" in the light of the AVMS Directive.

The global aim of the study is the development of indicators that would make it possible to measure the independence of regulatory bodies in the field of audiovisual media, and to assess the functioning of these bodies and their capacity to ensure the effective application of the AVMS Directive.

The study has a designated time frame of 13 months and is planned to start in February 2010. On the part of the CMCS, the study team will be coordinated by Professor Kristina Irion, Department of Public Policy.