 Thank you so much and the chair forgot the most important part of my CV. I have a granddaughter and she is five years old, she is living in San Francisco and nearby every weekend we are Skyping. A couple of months ago she said, Nene, we are not on the same page and I said pardon me and she said well I have my own principles and you have yours and I said well can we bridge that gap and she said no you are too old for it but it is nice to talk to you and that is on a very small scale talking about the subject that we are touching upon today. Giving freedom of speech, having pluralism and having opportunities to discuss it and that Europe is a home for, it is a home for democracy, it's a home for transparency and it is a home for fundamental rights and those three issues are quite important for the rest of my remarks. We know that a free and a pluralistic media is essential, is an essential part of that but and that is of course the question how to ensure, how to ensure respect for those values in practice and it's less obvious than just the line to explain it and that is where I seek a debate and therefore chair I think this is for me anyhow an historical day for it is not the start of the discussion we are aware but this is the day that we will just ask for consultation of the high level groups report and of the report of Christian Vantillo talking about the business models and the media future so when I am looking for a debate with you I want to know what are your ideas and I'm very glad that Peter Rabbit the minister and I are here together this more but sorry I here together and it shows that the Irish presidency is as committed as we are to drive this debate with you and Pat and I discussed it before and we are determined to get it in a speedy way and find a way forward by the way that's no surprise as we speak in a city that knows the value of freedom and long struggles for it there are three points ladies and gentlemen I'd like to make today number one in the European Union we do face challenges and I'm using diplomatic terms sometimes even threats to our principles by international comparison Europe does relatively well in this area most EU citizens thankfully enjoy the benefits of a free and pluralistic media but that doesn't mean that there are no problems whether of media concentration lack of diversity of restrictions on online but also offline media or state control pressure and interference Hungary has been one high profile case and their issues of media freedom are not yet solved just pure are not yet solved only a fraction of the council of Europe's recommendations have been implemented and I welcome of course I'm counting my blessings even if they are small I welcome that club radio has finally received a disputed frequency after an extremely long and complex legal battle but media issues are not limited to one member state there are concerns and intense debates in places across the EU from concerns about excessive concentration of media ownership lack of transparency just naming Bulgaria to the UK Levenson inquiry on the press but David will certainly explain that where the rights and responsibilities of journalists to abide by the law were tested and found severely wanting in many instances the scale and the issues are not always the same that's clear but this is a debate that rages across the union and this is an issue we must fix in Europe we are the birthplace of democracy a global guardian of fundamental rights and we are losing our rights outside European Union if we are not getting our own house in order I remember my discussions in Baku that people were saying come on you have a point yes when I was touching upon their freedom of speech and pluralism but what about and then you are feel like this so to say so we must fix in Europe what has to be fixed if Europe is to be anything more than an economic union it should be as a model and a champion of those values for it is of course very important that we just solve all the problems in financial economic area with the difficulties but our values are the base of our being together so to safeguard those values for our own citizens and to promote them to the planet and let's be the global best in class the freest the proudest media in the world and my second point is how do we achieve that because there are many different views about the best instruments to use whether there should be intervention by lawmakers or self-regulation by the sector or something in between whether it should be EU or national action or perhaps it's not about the rules and regulations at all but about the climate in which they operate and are interpreted a climate of professionalism by and respect for a free media and I want to make a contribution to resolve those issues in a dialogue with you in a way that transcends particular cases and transcends party politics what is at stake is citizens right to free expression and the right to benefit from free expression by others think of my granddaughter she was teaching me it is my right and it's your right to have different opinions party politics should not stand in the way and of course you will say for you are the decent part of Europe of course it shouldn't be a party politic issue but Pat and I can just explain to you that's not always the case sometimes party politics and also in these issues in Europe are playing a big role and it's shooting what is at stake indeed citizens right to free expression so too often politicians in Brussels seem to have pulled their punches on what is happening in one or other member state due to party political loyalty and despite the local differences across the EU it is clear to me especially in times of economic difficulties you should not restrict media channels nor the information citizens can access through them for example to improve your conditions for reelection neither through laws nor through a climate that induces self censorship citizens need to know they can rely on unrestricted information to make good choices and the third point is that you can't ignore the reality of today's online world today we have many different systems in place for example national regulators which can be controversial for print media are commonplace for audiovisual broadcasting and yet in a digital age one clear distinctions are becoming blurred between print and broadcast between organized media and occasional blockers between professional journalist and activist citizen and any attempt to codify and protect media freedom and pluralism struggles to contain those shifting concepts what do we even mean by media the fact is in an online world content readily crosses sectorial boundaries and readily crosses national borders too and because the digital transition is a challenge for some traditional media i have created the media futures forum led by christian fantilo to discuss future oriented solutions across the sector and i highly recommend to read their report it is about also new business models around 18 months ago i asked another high-level group of experts to consider the issue of media freedom and pluralism and i'm so glad that harter duipler minnan one of the authors is with us today and is joining the discussion their independent report made 30 recommendations to the EU its member states but also to medium outlets and journalists themselves and i will never forget harter our first meeting when we were sitting together and that you and the chair of the high-level group was looking at me and saying okay you want us to be active and prepare a report but one requirement don't ask for limitations it is up to us and i said well of course for i asked those four high-level people and then i shouldn't limit your your way of acting with those issues and i'm still very very impressed by what you produced at that time there in the independent report is really worthwhile to read and i'm sure those recommendations and some of them already attracted quite a considerable attention earlier this year that list of recommendations will just be a big push forward one way or another but it will push forward the discussion in europe so to say and some blatantly misrepresented the reports and i want to say that too and that's also freedom so to say but please if you are acting and reacting just read the stuff and don't just misuse it in a way that is not based on facts and figures so the misrepresentation and of some of this report and said that the EU would seek the power to sack journalists that's absolutely nonsense but okay that's also attracting attention and if that is stimulating the debate come on let's go for it but this is a comprehensive report raising many important and subtle ideas like whether legislation should be used to protect journalistic sources a very interesting suggestion and recommendation but this is indeed the start of the discussion and it is also about the role of journalistic standards all areas where there is a genuine debate to be had let's drill down to that next level and i realized that it is a sensitive area no doubt about that and i realized that views on those issues can be divided even within the sector itself but that is exactly why i want to know your views and that i want to know the views of the journalists of practitioners of experts and of the civil people of all our citizens those of you who can carry out your job without interference or restriction great but those of you who don't feel so lucky tell us why and what kind of action might change that let's be pragmatic for it's not only talking about principles it's also talking about the implementation of those values that we are so important in our list and so today i announced the launch of two consultations on the recommendations of the high level group starting today for 12 weeks you are asked to give input the first looks at one specific issue in a field where the EU has already exercised its legislative competences national regulatory authorities oversee audiovisual services under existing EU rules we are asking whether and how to revise the EU law that applies to them in particular to strengthen and to better guarantee their independence from governments and in a second consultation we are asking for views on each of the other recommendations of the group whether you agree or disagree or whether you have other ideas this is your chance to say so and help shape the future of media policy and that question of how we safeguard fundamental freedoms like media freedom pluralism is not an easy one-to-ones but it is absolutely vital it is so important and it's not going to go away as the recent letter from four EU foreign ministers to president Barroso showed some governments are concerned by the threats to our common values and I call on all governments in the EU to take this debate seriously and why in the interest of our citizens and ultimately in their own interest in the base of the democracy of Europe but for all that this is a complex question for all that opinions may be polarized we must find the right way forward for the sake of European values for the fundamental freedoms and the fabric of our own democracy I will not shy away Mr. Chair I will not shy away from those difficult issues and I'm determined to identify that way forward to take concrete action if justified before the end of my mandate we still have time one year and seven months a lot can be done solution may lie in action from the EU or member states from the sector itself or from a mix but whatever the answer I'm clear that freedom of speech is a fundamental EU value and the EU has a duty the duty is to ensure it is safeguarded for how to best to do that our turn to the journalism profession itself and those who cherish and protect its values and by the way this is a unique opportunity it is a unique opportunity and it is a call to action to all of you and I hope you will get that question you will respond to that question and I know you value media freedom and fear its loss so tell me not just what the problems are I'm not saying that we are completely aware of all the problems but anyhow add to that saying and telling tell me the solutions and the solutions are taken very seriously and sooner we are on the spot the better it is for I think it is about credibility if we can act about something that is so important for our democracy thanks thank you very much vice president