CANNES: The European Commission launched a new online audiovisual service providing media with free access to news, recordings, photography and documentation from inside the EU.

A range of audiovisual services now on offer allow journalists in Brussels to use the very latest professional recording and editing equipment.

Live coverage of key events, news summaries and up to the minute photos are available via “Europe by Satellite” - the European Union’s own TV news agency (EbS) and on the Internet.

Journalists can also access the European Commission audiovisual library, which covers the principal developments in European history since 1945. Over 10,000 subjects are available in broadcast quality.

Most of the material can be readily downloaded from the web site, and from www.europa.eu.int/comm/avservices.

This service is offered by Directorate general Communication of the European Commission, present for the first time at Mipcom in collaboration with the EU Media Programme.

"We are pleased to announce our plans and visions to the professionals at Mipcom. There is a need for new formats and programmes that share European realities and perspectives. We want to help producers and broadcasters to exploit this potential," said European Commission head audiovisual service at Directorate general Communication Alain Dumort.

The launch of the new audiovisual online service is part of the European Commission action plan presented by vice president Margot Wallström to develop new ways of communicating Europe.

In 2006, the European Commission plans to invest further in the co-production of programmes dealing with European subjects, following approval by the European Parliament. Call for tenders will be announced early next year. The service is available 24 hours a day and is free of charge.