Cultural Diversity in the Digital Age: EU Competences, Policies and Regulations for Diverse Audiovisual and Online Content

Abstract

Pursuant to the 2005 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions (the UNESCO Convention), ‘ “Cultural diversity” refers to the manifold ways in which the cultures of groups and societies find expression … whatever the means and technologies used’ (UNESCO, 2005: Article 4(2)). Parties to this convention may in particular ‘adopt measures aimed at enhancing diversity of the media …’ (ibid.: Article 6(2)(h)). The European Union (EU) ratified the UNESCO Convention confined to its competences in the fields covered by this instrument and without prejudice to member states’ initiatives towards this aim (EU Council (Council), 2006).