Articles in this category:  24.09.2007 / The press plays an unique role in a democratic society. Still it feels responsible for sustainabe development.
click to close FAEP contributed to the EU Action Plans on Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industry Policy Magazine publishers in Europe support very strongly the overall policy objective of sustainable development in order to sustain economic growth and prosperity while minimising environmental damages and make sustainable use of the earth’s resources.
FAEP states in its contribution to the EU Commission's consultation on the Action Plans for Sustainable Consumption and Production and Sustainable Industry Policy how magazine publishers do see their role in this debate:
1. Magazine publishers are committed to support the policy objectives of the EU Commission’s Action Plans on Sustainable Consumption and Production and on Sustainable Industry Policy.
2. FAEP recommends to introduce any policy measure based on voluntary self-commitments of publishing companies and/or on self-regulatory regimes coordinated by the national trade associations and/or the European trade association, FAEP.
3. Self-regulation in the publishing sector is well developed and politically accepted (e.g. press council, advertising self-regulation) as it allows publishers themselves to steer suggested changes along the lines of the highly sensitive interrelations of the two relevant markets for magazines: the reader market and the advertising market.
4. FAEP opposes any direct or indirect measure to restrict, ban or impose certain requirements on advertising, as this undermines the independency and diversity of the press in the EU. The existing advertising self-regulatory organisations across the EU would be the preferred bodies to ensure the compliance of advertising with the given advertising standards.
5. However quantitative standards set by the EU or national governments as well as labelling schemes do not reflect the sectors characteristics in terms of the different markets publishers have to apply. FAEP therefore opposes these policy instruments and recommends to build on measures to be developed and implemented by the industry itself, when considered as effective.
6. FAEP and the National Magazine Publishing Associations in EU Member States would like to keep the flexibility to decide, which issues are tackled best at EU level and which are solved best at national level. This approach would allow the sector to achieve set targets more efficiently.
7. The press is often presented as the fourth pillar of democracy. It therefore deserves a status of protection that prevents the press from interferences with its crucial role within the society by allowing an unhindered development of the business side of publishing. Only then a high quality of content as well as the independency and diversity of the press across the EU can be ensured.
Contact: Max von Abendroth / max.abendroth@faep.org
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