Describe the main features of the policy/measure:
The 2019-2022 Council Work Plan for Culture included a topic on co-productions in the audiovisual sector, for policy collaboration through a working group of EU Member States’ experts under the Open Method of Coordination. The task identified for this OMC group was ‘In order to stimulate co-productions, policy recommendations and incentives for co-productions in legal frameworks and audiovisual support schemes will be developed.
The mandate of the working group (link above) called for it to take into account, inter alia:
• the role of other European bodies such as Eurimages;
• the role of legal frameworks, such as bilateral co-production agreements, the Council of Europe Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, and the European Convention on Transfrontier Television;
• the contribution of private partners in financing and distribution;
• the role of TV broadcasters, both public and private, and VOD, as well as the importance of the role of distribution in the value chain;
• the emergence and the impact of new market players, in particular global video on
demand (VOD) services and the new non-linear business models they have generated;
• the impact of new digital technologies on audiovisual services, especially for the recommendation, personalisation and processing of audiovisual content;
• the role of overseas or non-EU co-production partners;
• changes in audience behaviour, especially in relation to how to engage young people.
Website of the policy/measure, if available:
What are the results achieved so far through the implementation of the policy/measure?:
The working group of Member States experts on audiovisual coproductions met 3 times in 2019 and 2020 and aims to complete its report by the end of 2021. Its meetings have focused on tackling bureaucratic obstacles to international co-productions, the consequences of COVID, and insurance policies.
External organisations have participated as observers, including the European Film Agency Directors association (EFADS), Cine-Regio, the European Audiovisual Observatory and Eurimages. The group’s work has also been presented to the Council of Europe When the group’s report is finalised, the Chair will be invited to present it to the Council Audiovisual Working Party. The Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) proposes to use their stakeholder dialogues (particularly the European Film Forum) and their presence at film markets to promote the results.
Partner(s) engaged in the implementation of the measure: