|
IP/05/691
Brussels, 8th June 2005
State aid: Commission endorses Northern
Irish Language Broadcast Fund
The European Commission has authorised public funding for the Northern
Irish Language Broadcast Fund in the United Kingdom under EC Treaty state aid
rules. The overall Fund amount will be £12 million (€ 17.7 million)
for the period 2005 – 2009. The objective of the Fund is to support the
production of television and film output in the Irish language. The Commission
considers that since the aid aims to promote cultural products and the Irish
Language, it can be authorised under EC Treaty rules that allow state aids for
the promotion of culture.
Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said: “The Fund fosters
broadcasts for Irish language speakers and I am happy to approve state aid which
promotes cultural and regional identity.”
The newly established Fund’s objective is to promote, develop and
support the Irish language in Northern Ireland through the production and
broadcasting of television and film output. To qualify for funding, a minimum of
60% of the spoken word within the production must be in Irish and every
production must be subtitled in English. The product must be of artistic quality
and should be capable of being delivered by present and developing delivery
platforms – including analogue, digital, online and interactive platforms.
It further should reach a substantial audience in Northern Ireland. Aid
beneficiaries will be independent, audiovisual production companies and in
exceptional cases broadcasters.
The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 contains a commitment to “seek more
effective ways to encourage and provide financial support for Irish language
film and television production in Northern Ireland.” The Joint Declaration
in April 2003 stated that the British Government would establish an Irish
language Film & Television Production Fund.
The fund meets the criteria for aid to be compatible under state aid rules
set out in the Commission’s Communication on “certain legal aspects
relating to cinematographic and other audiovisual works” (see IP/01/1326).
Aid to promote culture may be authorised where such aid does not unduly distort
competition, according to EC Treaty state aid rules (Article 87(3)(d)).
|
|
