European and international regulation

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Regulation in the audiovisuel and digital sectors takes place within a European framework, and is based on close cooperation with regulators in other EU member states.

Arcom also maintains regular relations with its counterparts, and every year welcomes numerous foreign delegations to Paris to learn about its role and operations.

Sustained bilateral relations

Arcom maintains close bilateral relations with many of its foreign counterparts, both through multilateral networks and bilaterally.

Among the latter, Arcom has particularly close links with the UK'sOFCOM and Germany's DLM, with whom it has met twice a year since 1996. These tripartite meetings provide an opportunity to compare approaches to regulation and exchange views on common audiovisual issues.

Visits

Every year, Arcom welcomes between forty and fifty delegations from all over the world who wish to learn more about its role and operations. All visits are personalized: a program of targeted meetings is proposed according to the composition and expectations of each delegation.

Missions

The French model of audiovisuel regulation is of interest abroad. Every year, Arcom is summoned to share its experience by sending experts around the world, at the request of the authorities of the countries concerned.

Arcom also learns about the models and practices of its counterparts, through general or thematic study missions that it regularly carries out abroad.

Arcom and the European Union: ERGA

The European Regulators' Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA)

The European Regulators' Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA) is a consultative body of the European Commission created by a decision of February 3, 2014. It brings together the heads of the audiovisual regulation authorities of the twenty-seven member states of the European Union.

Its mission is to provide the European Commission with coordinated, operational input from regulators on all issues relating to audiovisual media services and the European regulatory framework. It also facilitates cooperation and the exchange of experience and best practice between regulators.

Arcom chaired the ERGA in 2014 and 2015.

In recent years, Arcom has coordinated ERGA's work on thedevelopment ofthe European regulatory framework, including the Digital Services Act (DSA ) (see ERGA's position on the DSA in pdf.) andthe European Media FreedomAct(EMFA ). Arcom is also actively involved in the Group's other work, notably on the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the fight against disinformation.

Arcom keeps a close eye on developments in European Union regulations that may affect the audiovisual industry.

In application of article 9 of the law of September 30, 1986 , which stipulates that " the French Superior Audiovisual Council (now the French regulatory authority for audiovisual and digital communication) is consulted on the definition of France's position in international negotiations on radio and television ", Arcom contributes to the definition of the French authorities' position on European Union audiovisual issues, as part of the interministerial coordination provided by the General Secretariat for European Affairs (SGAE).

In support of and in addition to the French authorities, Arcom makes a direct contribution to the work of the European institutions.

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS Directive) is the European legal manager for audiovisual media. It covers television services and on-demand audiovisual media services - video-on-demand and catch-up TV. The directive lays down minimum rules for the protection of person under 18, the promotion of European works and commercial communications. Member States may adopt stricter or more detailed rules. They ensure that these rules are respected by the services under their jurisdiction. These can then be freely received throughout Europe.

Arcom is involved in implementing the AVMS Directive:

  • it prepares the reports on the promotion of European works required by the directive;
  • it cooperates closely with its counterparts in the European Union and the European Commission on the application of Member States' jurisdiction criteria, the guarantee of freedom of reception and the derogations that can be provisionally granted, and the anti-circumvention proceedings.

Alongside representatives of the French Ministry of Culture's Directorate General for Cultural Industries and Media (DGMIC), Arcom's departments take part in meetings of the directive's contact committee.

As part of the responsibilities defined by the directive, Arcom ensures that non-European satellite channels falling within the competence of France comply, in particular, with the requirements of the law relating to the protection of persons under 18, respect for human rights, and the prohibition of incitement to hatred and violence.

Browse the revised AVMS directive

Browse the fact sheet on regulation of foreign channels

Download the ERGA report on the AVMS Directive PDF Format - 1 MB

  • PDF
  • 1.17 MB
  • in french
Download the document

Arcom and the European network: EPRA

Creation and missions

The oldest network for discussion and information exchange

The European Platform of Regulatory Authorities(EPRA) was created in Malta in 1995 in response to the need for strengthening cooperation between regulatory authorities in Europe.

The EPRA is a network for the exchange of information and best practices, and a forum for informal discussions, between audiovisuel regulators in Europe on subjects of common interest.

EPRA's statutes exclude the adoption of political declarations.

53 members, from Western Europe to the Caucasus

The EPRA covers Europe in the broadest sense: 53 audiovisual regulatory bodies representing 47 countries or territories are currently members of the EPRA.

The European Commission, the Council of Europe, the European Audiovisual Observatory and the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media are permanent observers on the platform.

The EPRA holds two meetings a year, one in the spring and one in the fall, at the invitation of a regulatory body. Meetings are organized around plenary sessions and working groups, the topics of which are set out in an annual program. The working languages are French and English.

The EPRA Executive Committee is made up of a Chairman and four Vice-Chairmen elected intuitu personae by the members for a period of two years.

The EPRA Secretariat is a permanent structure hosted by the European Audiovisual Observatory in Strasbourg. It is responsible for organizing meetings, facilitating the exchange of information between members and updating information on audiovisual regulation in Europe (website www.epra.org).

The EPRA is financed by membership fees.

The EPRA is a dynamic platform for information exchange, providing an opportunity to compare audiovisual regulations and approaches across Europe at its two annual meetings and throughout the year.

The EPRA website(https://www.epra.org/) is a rich source of documentation on audiovisual regulation in Europe.

Arcom plays an active role in the year-round exchange of information between EPRA members.

This takes the form of sending out questionnaires or replies to questionnaires, sharing documents, regular exchanges with other national regulators, and active participation in various network meetings.

At these meetings, the Arcom delegation is made up of representatives of the departments and of the AMF College, depending on the topics on the agenda.

Arcom and the Mediterranean network: RIRM

The Network of Mediterranean Regulatory Institutions(RIRM) offers regulators of audio and video content in the Mediterranean basin the opportunity to exchange practices, dialogue and share information.

Creation and missions

The RIRM was created on the initiative of the French Superior Audiovisual Council (now Arcom) and the Consell de l'Audiovisual de Catalunya (CAC), in Barcelona, on November 29, 1997, to strengthen the cultural and historical links between the two shores of the Mediterranean, and to enable independent regulatory bodies in the Mediterranean basin to exchange views on the common challenges they face.

It provides a platform for discussion and regular exchange of information on audiovisual regulation issues.

It promotes transparency and mutual understanding among its members, notably through the exchange of best practices between regulators.

It promotes free and responsible communication in the Mediterranean basin through a set of fundamental principles for the regulation of audio and video content.

It maintains cooperative relations with international organizations and platforms of similar institutions.

The five founding members of the network are the French, Catalan, Greek, Italian and Portuguese regulatory authorities.

The RIRM has since opened up and expanded. It now has twenty-seven member institutions, representing twenty-four states and territories in the Mediterranean basin.

The RIRM meets once a year in plenary session. The working languages are French and English. The meeting is held in the country of the member institution holding the vice-presidency of the network.

Between two plenary meetings of the presidents, a technical commission is convened. Its aim is to contribute, through its reflections and proposals, to the commitments made by the presidency and vice-presidency, and to propose an agenda for the forthcoming meeting.

The network is chaired by the president of one of the member institutions, after a term as vice-president. Each term lasts for one year. The new vice-president is elected at the end of each annual meeting.

The network's permanent secretariat is run jointly by Arcom (France) and HACA (Morocco), and provides support to the presidency and vice-presidency. It coordinates information relating to member institutions. As a force for support and proposals, this secretariat assists with the implementation of agreed guidelines and coordinates joint actions.

The RIRM has led to the adoption of several joint declarations by its members. Common objectives have been set for the protection of youngsters, the fight against violence in the media, reality TV programs, the fight against gender stereotypes, the treatment of information on the refugee crisis and Mediterranean migrants in the audiovisual media, audiovisual regulation adapted to the digital age and its democratic requirements, and in particular to the objective of social cohesion.

Arcom, a founding member of RIRM, is within the scope of the network's permanent secretariat. We play an active role in animating the network through our reflections and proposals for action.

The RIRM website is administered and updated by Arcom.

Arcom and the Francophonie: REFRAM

The Réseau francophone des régulateurs des médias(REFRAM) provides a framework for exchange and cooperation between French-speaking audiovisual regulators.

Creation and missions

Created in Ouagadougou on July 1, 2007, REFRAM aims to strengthen solidarity and sharing between its members. It provides a forum for debate and exchange of information on media regulation issues, and contributes to the training and cooperation efforts of its members.

The consolidation of the rule of law, democracy and human rights are at the heart of REFRAM's vocation.

REFRAM is one of the institutional networks supported by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Thirty media regulation authorities from twenty-nine French-speaking countries have joined REFRAM.

The Organisation internationale de la Francophonie(OIF) has observer status.

The network meets at least once every two years, or at the request of two-thirds of its members. It also organizes information meetings.

The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of REFRAM are appointed for a two-year term. The vice-chairman automatically takes over the chairmanship at the end of the current chairman's term of office.

The secretariat is provided on a permanent basis by Arcom.

In order to implement concrete actions in each country, roadmaps and action plans are adopted by the members meeting in conference.

To facilitate this task, REFRAM manages:

  • organizing thematic conferences at regular intervals;
  • implementing professional exchange programs between members;
  • helping to improve the human and material means required for regulation.

The Chairman of Arcom has been President of the network since October 7, 2022, for a two-year term. The theme of adapting audiovisual regulation to the challenges and challenges raised by the major online content platforms will be the main thread running through the network's actions during Arcom's presidency.

Arcom also acts as REFRAM's permanent secretariat. It administers and updates the REFRAM website, in conjunction with network members.

As part of REFRAM's cooperation activities, Arcom welcomes numerous delegations and carries out expert missions, notably in the field of program control.