13/04/2006

"There are major concerns for Europe, culture, audiovisual production and cinema, in particular." In a press release published Wednesday, the European Producers’ Club called all European Deputies to respect the budget allocated for the MEDIA project from 2007 to 2013. The budget has already dropped €150m annually, while in July 2004 the European Commission made a request for funding of just over €1bn for the new seven-year period, and there are now 27 countries instead of 25.

Given that the European Council’s decision on December 16 (see article) already puts the objectives that Europe has set for itself at risk, the association presided over by Jean Cazès, which includes the big names of the European film industry – UGC, BBC Films, Pandora, Prokino, Senator, Zebra Producciones, RAI Cinema and Arte France Cinéma – calls all parties to be as vigilant as possible in terms of the European Parliament negotiations concluded on April 5 on the financial outlook for the 2007-2013 period.

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While, the major points of the budget have been fixed, the details of spending and per-sector allocation in particular have not yet been approved. Thus, the Club is asking “members of the European Parliament to guarantee adequate financing for the MEDIA Programme, which is the main source of funding for the film and audiovisual industry” and is “currently the only Community instrument that is recognised for its effectiveness by both professionals and politicians” in the construction of citizenship and European identity.

(Translated from French)