Unia Europejska względem zjawiska koncentracji własności mediów

Abstract

The process of media concentration is currently experienced on different media markets. This phenomenon should be seen as one of side-effects of the liberalization process as well as of technological convergence. It is also one of the most controversial issues of the media policy. It is because decision-makers responsible for policy of protecting pluralism of media should consider private interests of media companies as well as public interest. The issue is still under discussion in many countries around the world. It also attracted attention of the EU policy-makers. In early 1990s they tried to persuade Member Sates to harmonize anti-concentration provisions within the EU. However a number of Member States as well as influential interest groups rejected this proposal, so the issue vanished from the European agenda. The European Parliament was the first EU institution to start iscussing this issue once again in 2002. Adoption of the European Parliament resolution concerning it reopened this debate in the context of a process of review of the Television without Frontiers directive. The discussion on the European Level has inspired the European Commission to launch a three-step approach for advancing the debate on media pluralism within the EU. The action is supposed to be concluded with a Commission Communication on indicators for media pluralism in the EU Member States, expected in 2009. This article attempts to clarify the  multidimensional term “media concentration” and to present the EU policy in this respect.