WIPO Lex

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Declaration dated August 27, 2008, supplemented by a letter dated December 4, 2008:
"With reference to Article 19, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina declares that the following institutions have been appointed to be responsible for the implementation of the Convention:
- Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trg BiH br.1, 71000 Sarajevo – contact person: Mr Željko Kneževic, Minister Assistant for Communication and Informatization). The competence of this Ministry is the creation of the policies.
- Communications Regulatory Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Mehmeda Spahe br.1., 71000 Sarajevo – contact person: Ms Dunja Mijatovic, Director of Broadcasting Division). The competences of the Agency are : the regulation of communications, meaning the regulation of the broadcasting and public telecommunication networks and services, including the establishment of permissions, regulating the prices, interconnecting and defining basic conditions for securing common and international communication assets, planning, coordination and allocation of the radio frequency spectrum, etc.
In their common work and intentions, the Ministry and the Agency will take all necessary measures for the implementation of goals such as: promoting fair competition, support for efficient managing of the resources of radio frequencies and numbers, disabling potential danger or limiting competition in the field of communication in line with sector's policies and other issues."

Bulgaria

Declaration made upon ratification:
"The authorities designated in accordance with Article 19 of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, following the decision No. 81 of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria, dated 12 February 1999, are:
1. The National Council for Radio and Television, address: 1, "Alexander Batenberg" Square, Sofia 1000.
2. The State Commission for Telecommunications, address: 6, "Gourko" Street, Sofia 1000.
The competence of these two authorities, concerning the co-operation between member States, foreseen in paragraph 3 of Article 19 of the Convention, are distributed as following:
- The National Council for Radio and Television - authority for co-operation in accordance with letters "a", "b", "c" et "d" of paragraph 3 of Article 19 of the Convention;
- The State Commission for Telecommunications - authority for co-operation in accordance with letters "c" et "d" of paragraph 3 of Article 19 of the Convention - only concerning technical questions."

Croatia

Declaration dated December 7, 2001, updated by a letter dated December 13, 2002:
"In accordance with Article 19, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the central authority in the Republic of Croatia is:
Vijece za radio I televiziju (Council for Radio and Television), Prisavlje 14, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia, Tel.: 00.385.1.61.69.110/045, Fax: 00.385.1.61.96.662
The persons to contact are: Mrs Tatjana HOLJEVAC, Deputy Minister at the Ministry for Shipping Affairs, Transport and Communication; Mr Krešo ANTONOVIC, Secretary of the Council for Radio and Television, Tel.: 00.385.1.61.69.045, E-mail: krešo.antonovic@telekom.hr"

Finland

Reservation made upon ratification:
"Finland declares, according to Article 32, paragraph 1.a, of the Convention, that it reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory, solely to the extent that it does not comply with its domestic legislation, of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages according to the rules provided for in Article 15, paragraph 2, of this Convention."

Declaration made upon ratification:
"Authority: Ministry of Transport and Communications, P.O. Box 235, FIN-00131 Helsinki, Finland, Tel: 358-0-17361, Fax: 358-0-1736340."

France

Declaration dated December 18, 2006:
"In accordance with Article 19, paragraph 2, of the Convention, France designates the two following authorities:
- the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) – Pursuant to the Law No. 86-1067 of 30 September 1986 on the freedom of communication, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) "guarantees the exercise of freedom of audiovisual communication concerning radio and television (…), encourages free competition and the establishment of non-discriminatory relations between editors and providers of service, as well as quality and diversity of programmes".
- the Direction du Développement des Médias, under the authority of the Prime Minister (DDM) – Pursuant to the Decree No. 2000-1074 of 3 November 2000, the Direction du Développement des Médias (DDM) defines and implements the government's policy for the development and pluralism of medias and information society services; as such, it elaborates, inter alia, the legislation concerning audiovisual communication; moreover, the DDM takes part in European and international negotiations in relation with the regulation of medias and information society services; in the framework of its functions, it participates to the meetings of the Standing Committee of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television which is responsible for following the application of the Convention."

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:
"In the same spirit as at the time of the adoption of the Community's "Television without Frontiers" Directive in October 1989, France has decided to sign the Council of Europe's Convention on Transfrontier Television with a view to promoting freedom of information as well as the exchange and production of audiovisual programmes in Europe.
Now that the Audiovisual EUREKA project is beginning to bear fruit, France intends to make every endeavour to ensure that the Convention contributes in a wider geographical framework to the promotion of European programmes and the emergence of a structured and competitive continental market.
This Convention was not designed, and should not be used, to justify projects whose sole purpose is to circumvent national and Community regulations intended to encourage European programming and production.
In committing itself, therefore, France is sure that all the signatory countries to the Convention share the same concerns, as any interpretation or measure contrary to such principles would constitute a serious undermining of the very foundations of the policy of European audiovisual co-operation."

Germany

Declarations dated August 30, 1994:
1. "Legal proceedings are pending at present before the Federal Constitutional Court in which the question of whether the European Communities were entitled to issue the directive on television may be of importance.
The Federal Republic would like to make it clear that the deposit of the instrument of ratification of the Convention does not at the same time prejudice its consent to the European Communities' accession to the Convention."
2. "Authorities:
Bundesministerium des Innern (at Federal level), Referat S M 7, Graurheindorfer Str. 198, 53117 Bonn;
Rundfunkkommission (at Länder level), der Ministerpräsidenten der Länder zugleich, Staatskanzlei des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz, Peter-Altmeier-Allee 1, 55116 Mainz. Note: A copy of each message to one authority shall be transmitted to the other one."

Declaration made upon signature:
"Legal proceedings are pending at present before the Federal Constitutional Court in which the question of whether the European Communities were entitled to issue the directive on television may be of importance.
The Federal Republic would like to make it clear that its signing of the Convention does not at the same time prejudice its consent to the European Communities' accession to the Convention."

Hungary

Declaration made upon ratification:
"The Republic of Hungary declares that, in accordance with Article 26, paragraph 2, of the Convention, it recognises as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement in respect of any other Party accepting the same obligation the application of the arbitration procedure provided for in the appendix to the Convention."

Reservation made upon ratification:
"The Republic of Hungary declares that, in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention, it reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory, solely to the extent that it does not comply with its domestic legislation, of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages according to the rules provided for in Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention."

Liechtenstein

Declarations made upon ratification:
1. "The Central Authority in the Principality of Liechtenstein, designated in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 2, of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, is the: Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, Im Städtle 49, FL - 9490 Vaduz, Principality of Liechtenstein."
2. "The Principality of Liechtenstein declares that, in accordance with Article 26, paragraph 2, of the Convention, it recognises as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement in respect of any other Party accepting the same obligation the application of the arbitration procedure provided for in the appendix to the Convention."

Reservation made upon ratification:
"The Principality of Liechtenstein reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory, solely to the extent that it does not comply with its domestic legislation, of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages according to the rules provided for in Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention."

North Macedonia

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:
"The authority in Republic of Macedonia, designated in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 2, of the Convention is the:
Broadcasting Council, Ilindenska, 9, 1000 Skopje, the Republic of Macedonia, Tel. 389 2 12 90 84 – 389 2 10 93 38, Fax. 389 2 10 93 38"

Reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:
"The Government of Republic of Macedonia, in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph a, of the Convention reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholics beverages which do not comply with Republic of Macedonia domestic legislation."

Norway

Declaration made upon ratification:
"Authority: Ministry of Cultural Affairs, P.O. Box 8030 Dep., N-0030 OSLO, Norway, (Tel. 47 22 34 90 90), (Fax: 47 22 34 95 50)."

Reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:
"The Government of Norway, upon signing the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, in accordance with Article 32, paragraph 1, littera a, reserves the right to restrict the retransmission of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages which do not comply with Norwegian domestic legislation."

Portugal

Declaration made upon ratification:
"In accordance with Article 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Convention, Portugal designates the following authorities:
Alta Autoridade para a Comunicação Social (High Authority for the Mass Media), Avenida D. Carlos I, n° 130, 6°, 1200 Lisboa - Portugal, Tel.: 00.351 21 3929130, Fax: 00.351 21 3951449, e-mail: info@aacs.pt;
Instituto da Comunicação Social (Institute for the Media), Palácio Foz – Praça dos Restauradores, 1250-187 Lisboa - Portugal, Tel.: 00.351 21 3221200, Fax: 00. 351 21 3221209, e-mail: icomsocial@mail.telepac.pt"

Republic of Moldova

Declarations made upon ratification:
1. "According to Article 19, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the Coordinating Council of Audiovisuals from the Republic of Moldova is designed as competent authority for its implementation."
2. "The Republic of Moldova declares that it will apply the provisions of the Convention only on the territory controlled by the Government of the Republic of Moldova until the full establishment of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova."

Reservation made upon ratification:
"According to Article 32 of the Convention, the Republic of Moldova reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages."

Romania

Reservation made upon ratification:
"In accordance with Article 32 of the Convention, Romania reserves its right to oppose to retransmission on its territory of programmes services which contain advertisement for alcoholic beverages, in conformity with its domestic law."

Declaration made upon ratification:
"Romania designates the following competent authorities:
a) the Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations, as the authority to co-operate with, in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 3, sub-paragraphs b-d, of the Convention;
b) the National Audiovisual Council as the authority to co-operate with, in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 3, sub-paragraph a, of the Convention, and, for the provisions of the Article 19, paragraph 3, sub-paragraphs b-d, of the Convention, with the approval of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Denominations."

Serbia

Declaration made upon ratification:
"In accordance with Article 19, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Convention, the Republic of Serbia designates the following authorities:
Ministry of Culture, Media Sector, Vlajkoviceva Street 3, 11000 Belgrade, Tel./fax: +381 11 303 21 12;
Republic Broadcasting Agency (competent for implementation of the provisions on programming standards for broadcasters under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Serbia), Vase Carapica Street 2-4, 11000 Belgrade, Tel.: +381 11 202 87 00, Fax: +381 11 202 87 45, E-mail: office@rra.org.rs"

Slovakia

Declaration made upon ratification:
"Authorities: Council of the Slovak Republic for the Radio and TV Broadcasting, Nám. SNP 12, 811 06 Bratislava;
Mr. Peter Juráš, Chairman of the Council of the Slovak Republic for the Radio and TV Broadcasting;
Mrs. Jarmila Grujbárová, Representative of the Slovak Republic to the Permanent Committee of the Council of Europe for Transfrontier Television."

Reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:
"In accordance with Article 32, paragraph 1, letter a, of the Convention, the Slovak Republic declares that it reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory, solely to the extent that it does not comply with its domestic legislation, of programme services containing advertisements or alcoholic beverages according to the rules provided for in Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention."

Slovenia

Reservation made upon ratification:
"The Republic of Slovenia declares that it reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory of programme services containing advertising for alcoholic beverages according to the rules provided for in paragraph 2 of the Article 15 of the Convention."

Declaration made upon ratification:
"The Central Authority in Slovenia, designated in accordance with Article 19, paragraph 2, of the European Convention on Transfrontier Television, is the:
Ministry of Culture, Cankarjeva 5, SI – 1000 LJUBLJANA."

Spain

Declaration dated March 5, 2008:
"If the European Convention on Transfrontier Television were to be extended by the United Kingdom to Gibraltar, the Kingdom of Spain would like to make the following declaration:
1. Gibraltar is a non-autonomous territory for the international relations of which the United Kingdom is responsible and which is subject to a decolonisation process in accordance with the relevant decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations.
2. The authorities of Gibraltar have a local character and exercise exclusively internal competences which have their origin and their foundation in the distribution and attribution of competences performed by the United Kingdom, in compliance with its internal legislation, in its capacity as sovereign State on which the mentioned non-autonomous territory depends.
3. As a result, the eventual participation of the Gibraltarian authorities in the application of this Convention will be understood as carried out exclusively as part of the internal competences of Gibraltar, and it cannot be considered to produce a change in relation with what was established in the two previous paragraphs."

Declaration made upon ratification:
"Authority: Secretariat General of Communications ("Secretaría General de Comunicaciones"), Ministry of Public Works."

Switzerland

Declaration dated April 15, 1992:
"Authorities:
1. Federal Office of Communication, Federal Department of Transport, Communication and Energy, Mr Frédéric RIEHL, Vice-Director, 44, rue de l'Avenir, CH - 2503 BIENNE
2. The independent Authority for the Examination of Radio and Television Complaints (Autorité indépendante d'examen des plaintes en matière de radio et télévision) Case postale 8547, 3001 Berne, will, if necessary, work in conjunction with the authority mentioned above. The Independent Authority for the Examination of Complaints is competent in Switzerland to rule on the content of radio and television programmes (application of Article 7 of the Convention)."

Declaration dated May 5, 1989 and confirmed upon ratification:
"Switzerland reserves the right to restrict the retransmission on its territory, solely to the extent that it does not comply with its domestic legislation, of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages according to the rules provided for in Article 15, paragraph 2 of this Convention."

Ukraine

Reservation made upon ratification:
"Concerning Article 32, paragraph 1, of the Convention, Ukraine reserves the right to restrict in its territory the retransmission of programme services containing advertisements for alcoholic beverages, to the extent that it does not comply with its domestic legislation."

Declaration made upon ratification:
"Concerning Article 19, the authority designated in accordance with Article 19 of the Convention shall be the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine."

United Kingdom

Declaration dated June 18, 2013:
"1. Authority for any BBC broadcast:
British Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, W1A 1AA
2. Authority for any S4C broadcast:
S4C Authority, Park Tŷ Glas, Llanishen, Cardiff, CF14 5DU
3. Authority for any other broadcast:
Ofcom, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 9HA
All correspondence should be copied to the Department for Culture, Media and Sports, 100 Parliament Street, London, SW1A 2BQ."

Declaration dated September 1, 1994:
"In accordance with Article 31 of the said Convention, the Convention shall apply to the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, being territories for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible."