RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE ELDR CONGRESS
AMSTERDAM 2003

The ELDR Congress,

Notes with concern the ongoing concentration of ownership of media property throughout Europe;
Notes especially that this concentration has also a deep effect on the overall advertising market, about which some national antitrust authorities have opened investigations;

Notes that despite firm declarations by the European Parliament contained in the Resolution “Television without frontiers” of 4th September 2003, the Italian government has not solved the issue on conflict of interest affecting its Prime Minister and some senior members of his cabinet;

Notes ongoing concerns over the increasing pressure put upon the Judiciary by some militant media owned by the Italian Premier or close relatives;

Taking account of the above, the ELDR Party:

Declares that maintaining fair competition and pluralism in the media is essential for maintaining the substantial level of democracy expected in the European Union;

Commits, through the member parties, to press national governments to put media domination and its abuse on the political agenda at home, in Europe, and in foreign policy;

Urges the Italian government to take all necessary actions to stop all intimidatory actions against opposition parties and other state institutions, such as the Judiciary; and

Urges the Italian Prime Minister to finally put his affairs in order and to abide by the law.