Organizations representing the film and TV sectors across Europe, including the European Producers Club, the European Audiovisual Production Association, Central and Eastern Europe Animation, and Film and Audiovisual Markets in Europe, have issued a joint statement calling on the European Parliament and member states to protect the core identity of the long-standing Creative Europe—MEDIA program as it transitions into AgoraEU.
The signatories are seeking revisions to and clarity around key aspects of the AgoraEU—MEDIA+. Among the concerns is the lack of an earmarked budget for the film and audiovisual sector within the new proposal. While the total AgoraEU budget is proposed at €8.6 billion, the current draft bundles film, audiovisual media, and video games, together with news media.
“In line with our call for ensuring predictability and an increase of the budget for MEDIA, the support to the film and audiovisual sector should amount to at least 33% of the AgoraEU budget to maintain the balance of political priorities set out in the current Creative Europe program,” the statement said.
The statement is also seeking the reintroduction of the Creative Europe committee. “We believe that structured exchanges are essential to ensure that the program’s objectives remain aligned with the needs of industry professionals and that support schemes deliver a strong positive impact on the sector. Work programs on an annual basis should therefore be maintained, as well as regular structured dialogue between the European Commission, member states, and industry representatives. As European organizations, we can provide consolidated field feedback, practical insights on how schemes perform in practice, and suggestions to fine- tune implementation.”
Referring to the removal of the annexes from the new framework, the statement noted: “Supporting independent production companies—ie not controlled by an audiovisual media service provider—has always been at the core of the MEDIA program, as the European independent production companies are key drivers for European cultural diversity and artistic creation, as well as growth and jobs. The independence criteria should be defined in the legal basis for more legal certainty and remain the same as the ones applicable for decades in the various relevant support schemes (co-development, TV and online…) of the present Creative Europe MEDIA sub-program.
The joint statement also warns that the proposed regulation dilutes essential terminology and legal certainty. The coalition is calling for the reintroduction of the word “film” into the text to distinguish the sector from the broader media landscape. It also seeks to ensure explicit references to theatrical distribution, cinemas, festivals, and co-production.
The Creative Europe—MEDIA program, turning 35 this year, has been central to Europe’s content ecosystem with its various funding opportunities. “Over the past decades, MEDIA has supported and promoted Europe’s culture on a global scale, encouraging cultural exchange, artistic freedom, diverse creative voices, and independent entrepreneurship across the continent,” the statement says. “The AgoraEU program must build on the proven success of Creative Europe MEDIA and its consistent and meaningful objectives, not retreat from it.”
