EFAD press release: Council of Europe's convention on coproduction of series
The Convention on Coproduction of Audiovisual works in the form of series of the Council of Europe risks being stripped of its essential objectives
EFAD expresses deep disappointment with the PACE Opinion on the Council of Europe Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series.
Chris Marcich, EFAD Chair:
"EFAD members are very disconcerted by the PACE opinion framing the Convention as a competitiveness instrument. The Council of Europe’s mission is to uphold and promote cultural diversity, democratic cooperation, and freedom of expression. Calling for a market impact assessment is deeply unsettling, misaligned with Council of Europe’s mission and overlooks the very essence of the Convention — which is a cultural framework designed to strengthen collaboration among creators, not a market regulation tool. Crucially, the Opinion’s amendements open access of the Convention and associated public funding to large non-European players, putting the diversity of European production ecosystem at risk."
Sevara Irgacheva; EFAD Secretary General:
"The Convention was born from the Budapest Drama Series Process, whose central ambition was to enhance cultural diversity in the co-production of series across Europe. It seeks to empower independent producers — who take the highest creative and financial risks — to retain fair value in their works, ensuring that audiences can continue to enjoy the richness and plurality of European storytelling."
EFAD members therefore call on the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to safeguard the original spirit and objectives of the Budapest Declaration. Preserving the Convention’s cultural focus and its key provisions is essential to sustain the diversity, vitality, and sustainability of the European audiovisual ecosystem — and to ensure that Europe remains a home for distinctive stories that reflect our shared values and cultural heritage.
Read the full press release here