During 59th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Council of Europe of mass media policy (Strasbourg, France) that was held on May 13-16, 2003, Ukraine was unanimously appointed as a host country of 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy.

    60th meeting of the Steering Committee in Rome, Italy was held on November 4-7, 2003. According to the Steering Committee's decision the general topic of the Conference would be "Integration and Diversity: the new frontiers of European media and communications policy". There was also emphasized the circle of next sub-topics: freedom of expression and information in times of crisis; cultural diversity and media pluralism in times of globalization and human rights and regulation of the media and new communication services in the Information Society.

    The Government of Ukraine appointed the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine as the direct organizer of the Conference.

    In October 2003, following the documents prepared by the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine issued the Regulation "On Creating of the Organizing Committee on Preparation and Holding 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy". Mr. Dmytro V. Tabachnyk, Vice-prime-minister of Ukraine was appointed as the Head of the Organizing Committee.

    61st meeting of the Steering Committee was held on May 11-14, 2004, in Strasbourg, France. During the meeting the final date of the Conference was determined – March 10-11. 2005. Besides, it is planned to hold the meeting of the Steering Committee on March 9, 2005, for the final arrangements of the documents to be made and decisions of other urgent questions concerning the event to be adopted.

    In June 2004, "EXPO 2000 Ukraine" Ltd., a company with 13 years experience of organizing major international forums, was chosen as a General Manager on organizing and preparation of 7th European Ministerial Conference on mass Media Policy.
    Holding of such international event will mean positive response to Ukraine in Europe, and Ukraine will also be able to use it for the popularization of its achievements in mass media and communications, which will mean an important step on the way of entering WTO and EU structures.

    7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy will be held in the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, in the International Exhibition Center – modern complex, that with its technical characteristics can at the same time serve up to 5000 guests. The decision on holding the Conference at the International Exhibition Center was adopted on July 20, 2004, during the second meeting of the Organizing Committee on preparation and holding of the Conference (Protocol decision of the Organizing Committee No 2 of July 20, 2004).

    On September 9-10, 2004, Head of Media Division of Directorate General of Human Rights of the Council of Europe Mr. Christophe Poirel visited Kyiv. During his visit Mr. Poirel settled questions on preparation of the Conference with representatives of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, "EXPO 2000 Ukraine" Ltd. and International Exhibition Center.

    On September 9, 2004, the new press-center of the 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy was opened on the premises of the National Radio Company of Ukraine. (26, Khreshchatyk Str., Kyiv). Mr. Ivan S. Chyzh, Head of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine; Mr. Christophe Poirel, Head of Media Division of Directorate General on Human Rights of the Council of Europe;
Victor I. Nabrusko, President of the National Radio Company of Ukraine; Mr. Olexander Pashkevych, Director of "EXPO 2000 Ukraine" Ltd. and Mr. Anatoliy Tkachenko, Director of the International Exhibition Center took part in the inaugurating ceremony and the briefing for journalists, that was held due to such event.