Government Affairs

Mission

The role of the Government Affairs and Legal Committee is to nurture and position ERA Europe as the “European Electronic Retailing” representative organisation and specialist to talk to in the following circumstances:

1. When issues impacting Television and Audiovisual Retailing are at stake in European Institutions

Develop a positive dialog with the EU Commissioner and staff in charge of audio visual policies, as well as with MP’s and MP’s groups influencing Audio Visual laws and regulations at the European Parliament (especially the Audiovisual Media Services Directive – replacing the Television Without Frontiers Directive)

Unify the industry representation around leaders in the Television Audiovisual Retailing Arena, while articulating European and national visibility and representation in markets where changes are in process and action needed

2. When issues impacting Consumer protection are at stake in European Institutions:

Develop a positive dialog with the EU Commissioner and staff in charge of Consumer policies, as well as with MP’s and MP’s groups influencing consumer relations laws and regulations at the European parliament (especially the Consumer Acquis revision in process)

2010 – 2011 COMMITTEE

Chair: Julien Oberndoerfer (HSE24, Germany)
Co-chair: to be named

Committee members tbc

Staff Marcel Avargues – Executive Director – ERA EUROPE

* Board members ** Member company representative

AudioVisual Media Services Directive

Since 2004-2005 ERA EUROPE has participated in all phases and consultations conducted by the European Commission, in the course of the revision of the Television Without Frontier Directive. For the first time in Television Regulatory history in Europe, the DRTV and Teleshopping industry has been represented by a publicly recognized Trade Organization. This recognition was materialized by Commissioner Viviane Reding’s video keynote message at the 2006 Budapest ERA European Conference. In the presence of her spokesman Martin Selmayr, she gave credit to the industry for the positive contribution ERA EUROPE had provided to the initial debate and consultation.

The final text now adopted as a compromise by the European Commission and Council reflects the objective of liberalization of the quantitative rules on Audiovisual Commercial Communication (advertising – Teleshopping). Our intense work towards the end of 2006 paid dividends and led to a constructive dialog with rapporteur Mrs Ruth Hieronymi and MEP Ignasi Guardans, at the very last moments of the debate. It resulted in a last minute amendment that was voted at the December 2006 Parliament Session, restablishing the article 18-a, in a form that recognized the windows format, while respecting the Commission’s intention of eliminating the daily limit as obsolete.

We fully approve the final draft of the AudioVisual Without Frontiers directive, voted at the second reading of the Parliament, end of 2007.

ERA Europe’s Board of Directors and Government Affairs Committee is already actively participating in the consultations condcuted in member states for the implementation of the new directive. Our goal is to work with all European National stakeholders to obtain a maximum harmonization of the laws and regulations when the implementation will be activated. Our goal as a responsible industry is to facilitate cross-border activities, while protecting the viewers and consumers wherever they live, through a unified set of rules to govern Audiovisual Commercial Communictaions, especially Television Shopping programs. This harmonization is a critical factor for the growth of our industry and a way to better contribute to the production of culturaly diverse European non-commercial contents.

The Consumer Acquis and Distance Selling Directive

In 2007, the Government Affairs Committee opened a new chapter of industry representation, and a new are in dialogue with the European Institutions, starting with the Commission. This area of work and action is centred on the revision of the Consumer Acquis, and especially of the Distance Selling directive.

A first meeting was conducted with Kristian Hedberg Deputy Head of Cabinet for the Commissioner in charge of Consumer Affairs, Mrs Meglena Kuneva. It was very clear after a fruitful exchange of views, that the Commissioner’s agenda aiming at a full harmonization of Consumer protection Laws and protection to give European Consumers equal access to goods and services coming from all member states, while being equally informed and protected, wherever they live and wherever they buy from, will be endorsed and supported by our industry. May 14, 2007 ERA Europe submitted a response to the green paper on the Consumer Acquis Revision. We found very encouraging the communication of Mrs Kuneva to the IMCO committee of the Parliament.

ERA Europe’s Government Affair Committee plans to extend this dialogue, in the following months, with the European Parliament Internal Market Committee, and with involved MEPs Mrs Beatrice Patrie, and Malcolm Harbour.

EUROPEAN FORUM at the Electronic Home Shopping Conference

June 16 to 18, 2007 Mrs Meglena Kuneva honoured us by her presence and active participation the 2007 ERA EUROPEAN CONFERENCE, with member of her cabinet, Cristina Castagnoli. Mrs Kuneva after a private luncheon with ERA Europe’s Board of directors, June 17, opened the 2007 European Affairs Forum of our industry, June 18. Ignasi Gardans Cambo, MEP and Christophe Forax, representing Commssioner Viviane Reding participated in the Forum and Conference.

June 22-24, 2008, at the 2008 Electronic Home Shopping Conference , in Monte Carlo, Giuseppe Abamonte, Head of Unit, DG SANCO, gave a vibrant presentation of the Commission agenda as for a maximum harmonization, when reviewing the Consumers Contract law, as part of the Consumers Acquis review

ERA EUROPE sponsors the 2008 MEP AWARD of the PARLIAMENT MAGAZINE in the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Category.

The three nominees were:

Jacques Toubon - France (Group of the European People Party & European Democrats)
Kurt Lechner - Germany (Group of the European People Party & European Democrats)
Toine Manders - The Netherlands (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe)

The Award ceremony will took place Oct 8, 2008 at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels, and ERA Europe Award was handed to the winning MEP by ERA EUROPE’s Chairman of the Board, Alexander Chacon.

Please consult European Affairs related links