Le conseil d'etat et les autorites administratives independantes competentes en matiere audiovisuelle

The french council of state and independent administrative authorities competent in audio-visual matter

• Auteur / Autrice : PHILIPPE PORTET
• Direction : Hervé Rihal
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Droit public
• Date : Soutenance en 1997
• Etablissement(s) : Angers

Résumé

L'ambiguite rencontree dans la notion d'independance des autorites administratives independantes conduit a s'interroger sur la veritable independance de ces institutions. Les criteres organique et fonctionnel retenus par la doctrine pour la mettre a jour ne sont pas satisfaisants. Sans attribuer a celles de ces autorites competentes en matiere audiovisuelle cette denomination dans sa jurisprudence, le conseil d'etat les qualifie d'autorites de regulation. Le dyptique autorite-regulation permet de decouvrir pleinement cette independance. La regulation de l'audiovisuel par ces organismes implique qu'ils soient dotes d'une independance dans l'exercice de leurs prerogatives. Eu egard aux actes adoptes par la haute autorite, la commission nationale de la communication et des libertes et le conseil superieur de l'audiovisuel, le conseil d'etat en apprecie la legalite en recourant a un controle de degre variable. Dans un premier temps, le controle limite du juge administratif tend a preserver leur independance d'action lorsque de tels organismes mettent en mouvement leurs pouvoir d'autorisation et de reglementation. Dans un second temps, l'accentuation du controle de legalite conduit a encadrer progressivement leur independance dans l'hypothese de l'exercice de leur pouvoir de sanction, ce dernier portant atteinte aux libertes publiques. Le controle etendu de proportionnalite exerce par le juge sur l'activite de ces organes de regulation les fait reintegrer dans le cadre normal de l'administration, le conseil d'etat les considerant comme de simples autorites administratives classiques. L'independance de ces autorites administratives n'a pas pour effet, pour le juge du palais royal, de pratiquer un controle particulier de legalite.

The ambiguity found in the notion dealing with the independence of independent administrative authorities leeds to wonder about these institutions real independence. Functional and organic criterions took into secount by the doctrine to put in to date are not the best way to succeed in finding it out. Without atributing to those of these competent authorities in audio-visual matter this denomination in its case law, the french council of state considere then as regulation authorities. The whole authority-regulation fully let us know this independence. The regulation of the audiovisual by these organisms implies that they are endowed with an independence in exercising their prerogatives. Refereing to the acts adopted by the high authority of audio-visual communication, the national board ofcommunication and liberties and the head board of audio-visual, the council of state evaluate the legality by resorting to a control with a flutuating degree. On the first hand, the limited control by the administrative judge tends to preserve their independence of action when such organisations apply their authorisation and regulation power. On the other hand, the emphasis on the control of legality gradually leeds to restrict their independence if they happend to exercising their power of sanction; affecting this last public liberties. The extended control of proportionality exerted by the judge on the activity of these organisations of regulation finlully includes them into the normal area of the administration. The french council of state considers them as simple classic administrativeauthorities. The independence of these administrative authorities does not implies, for the judge of the royal palace, to practice a particular control of legality.