In view of the opening up of the radio spectrum as a result of the switchover from analogue to digital broadcasting, the Committee of Ministers aims to promote pluralism, cultural and linguistic diversity and public access in preference to a purely market-based approach. Without prejudging measures which will be taken by the member states (with regard to broadcasters, broadband applications, mobile multimedia and interactivity), the Committee of Ministers calls on member states to acknowledge the public nature of the “digital dividend” and to manage it as a public resource, efficiently and in the public interest.

Press freedom is deteriorating throughout this very diverse region. The leaders of the most authoritarian regimes bitterly resent journalists who expose their corruption, embezzlement and self-enrichment. In countries with more press freedom, journalists are often not sufficiently protected against legal action. Overall, journalism needs to be better defended, including in EU countries where press freedom is a reality. An overview by country.

Researchers from 11 countries that are members of the South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM) evaluated the observance of labor laws in the media sector. The report identifies problems in the way labor laws are applied to fully employed media workers as well as so-called “atypical’ employees, proposes solutions for these problems and shares best practices throughout the region. The project was coordinated by the Independent Journalism Center-Moldova (IJC).

A draft Act on Periodic Press and Agency News Service was recently approved by the Slovak Cabinet and is currently before Parliament. ARTICLE 19 was commissioned by the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the OSCE to comment on the draft Act, in particular to assess it against international standards on freedom of expression. It concludes that in key respects, provisions in the Act fail to conform to accepted international or European standards.

ECMI Issue Brief on ethnic data and public services in the Eastern European area begins by outlining the importance of minority civil service inclusion in the general discussion of minority participation in public life. Secondly, it provides an analysis of how legal norms and policies regarding bureaucratic recruitment and promotion affect the availability of data on minority representation in civil service. Finally, the paper discusses the options and strategies available to the researcher in situations of limited availability/poor quality of official data.

This article focuses on a new study by demographers Charles Westoff and Tomas Frejka which challenges the perception that among Europe's population, merely the Muslims' continues to grow. The increasing number and visibility of Muslims in Western Europe, juxtaposed with the low fertility among non-Muslims, has led some Europeans to worry that the region will eventually have a Muslim majority, fundamentally changing Western European society. Contrary to this view, the aforementioned study suggests that the fertility gap between Muslims and non-Muslims is shrinking.

Migration is a fact of life, a helpful boost to ageing populations, but also a source of division. This study of the King Baudouin Foundation explores the identity of the different Turkish communities in Belgium. While emphasizing the potential of Belgian-Turks as “intercultural ambassadors” between communities, it sheds light on the lack of integration of some categories of migrants, like married women and the young. It suggests the development of inclusion policies directed towards migrants associations and civil society organisations working with migrants.

This joint motion, endorsed with the support of six parties of the European Parliament, urges the European Commission to develop a European Framework Strategy on Roma Inclusion that aims to provide policy coherence at EU level as regards the social inclusion of the Roma, particularly Roma children. Referring to the Roma as the largest minority in Europe, the motion sums up the main policy areas concerning the Roma that need urgent attention. It also underlines that tackling the problems of the Roma requires a comprehensive approach at EU level, even if the individual efforts of the member states are important.

In this statement of core principles for the World Conference against Racism, Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance (WCAR) follow-up, signatories pledge to work on a positive Durban review process without hate or misuse of Human Rights terminology. Up to now it has been signed by 47 NGOs.

This biannual magazine of the Roma Education Fund aims to provide a platform for discussion, exchange and learning to all involved and interested in the education of Roma children. The journal does not retain academic ambitions but hopes to bring academics, activists, community development experts, education specialists, people involved in day to day education of Roma, Roma and non Roma, together in exchanging around concrete experiences and ideas. It focuses first on what works and on the progress, as well as on the stories of success in the education of Romani children.