Ofcom has rejected the prospect of stricter European regulation of countries' public service broadcasting remits.

Ideas on the table in a European Commission review apparently include a Union-level list of the sort of thing that does not constitute public service content and a unified method of deciding whether new media projects come under the remit.

The European Commission said its principles would remain "the recognition of member states' wide discretion to define public service broadcasting and the commission's task to preserve fair competition".

"This implies in particular the need for a clearly defined public service mission as well as a limitation of state aid to what is necessary for the fulfilment of this mission, excluding overcompensation and possible cross-subsidies into commercial activities," it said.

The UK broadcasting regulator, which recently began its own major review of PSB, today released its submission to the Commission, which strongly favoured "light touch" regulation and little change to the status quo.

Ofcom noted the suggestion of "the possibility of introducing an illustrative list of commercial activities not covered by the public service remit". It told the Commission: "Ofcom would caution against attempts to define at the European level, public activities as opposed to other activities that are commercial, since this question is intrinsically linked to the definition of the public service remit, which remains the exclusive competence of the member states."

Also rejected was the question of "whether there needs to be some agreed process for evaluating the role and scope for new media in order to assist in determining the public service character of a new offer as well as to avoid having disproportionate effects on competition".

Ofcom said: "(We) would caution against attempts to define at the European level, public activities as opposed to other activities that are commercial, since this question is intrinsically linked to the definition of the public service remit, which remains the exclusive competence of the member states."

On a general note, the regulator said: "Ofcom would suggest that the best way to ensure that these guidelines remain valid, and to mitigate against regular future adaptations being necessary, is to aim to have a framework that is as flexible, future proof and principles-based as possible."