Den kompetence, medlemsstaterne hermed får, skal ifølge protokollen imidlertid udøves under fuld hensyntagen til EU's regler, især propor­tionalitetsprincippet, hvad angår finansiering af de offentlige stationer.
However, the rights of Member States must be exercised, according to the protocol, in full compliance with the Community rules, in particular with the pro portionality principle as far as the financing of the public broadcasters is concerned.