The 7thPlenary Assembly of the Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities took place in Paris on 11-12 July 2005, under the presidency of Mr Dominique Baudis, Chairman of the Conseil supérieur de l’audiovisuel.

During the meeting, it was unanimously agreed that Mr Baudis will continue to hold the presidency of the Mediterranean Network until the next Network meeting which will be held in Barcelona in 2006. The vice-presidency of the Network will be held by the President of the Consell de l’Audiovisual de Catalunya, Mr Francesc Codina.

The regulatory authorities of Albania, Catalonia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Turkey are members of the Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities.

At its meeting in Paris, the Network agreed to extend membership to the Haute Autorité de la communication audiovisuelle of Morocco and to the Second Authority for Television and Radio of Israel.

The meeting was also attended by guests including the Chairman of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities, the Minister of Information of the Palestinian National Authority, the Chairman of the Conseil national de l’audiovisuel of Lebanon as well as representatives from the Audiovisual Communication Commission of Jordan, from the Egyptian TV and from the European Commission.

Discussions at the meeting involved the issues of broadcasting regulation in the context of convergence and technological changes, freedom of communication and programme monitoring. In addition, there was a discussion and exchange of views regarding the enlargement and reinforcement of the Network. According to the founding Charter of the Network, independent regulatory authorities belonging to other countries of the Mediterranean basin can also become members of the network. In order to develop the exchange of information between the Network members, a web site will be launched before the end of the year. All members have also undertaken to pay an annual subscription fee of 1,500 €.

The Mediterranean Network of Regulatory Authorities was established on 29 November 1997 in Barcelona and provides a platform for discussion and the exchange of information as well as research on issues regarding broadcasting regulation. Its mission is to reinforce cultural and historical links between Mediterranean countries and to identify common challenges against the backdrop of globalization