The European Producers Club and other producers’ organisations have warned that the regulation could mark a risky turning point for the future of independent audiovisual creation

At the San Sebastián Film Festival, the European Producers Club, along with more than 20 other producers’ organisations, have raised serious concerns about the European Commission’s proposed AgoraEU regulation (2028-2034), warning that it could mark “a risky turning point for the future of independent audiovisual creation in Europe”.

While welcoming the Commission’s ambition to increase budgets, and support the cultural and creative sectors, pluralism, press freedom and the fight against disinformation, producers argue that the new MEDIA+ strand dilutes the founding spirit of the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme, which, for over three decades, has been a cornerstone of European cultural diversity and independent production.

Among the issues highlighted are the removal of the independence criterion, the merging of the MEDIA programme with support for news media, the potential eligibility of non-European companies, and a lack of clear governance mechanisms. According to the signatories, these shifts risk diverting support away from independent producers towards subsidiaries of broadcasters and global platforms, thereby threatening diversity and competitiveness.

“We are deeply concerned that the independence of European production, a principle that MEDIA has always safeguarded, is at risk of being sidelined,” said Julie-Jeanne Regnault, managing director of the European Producers Club. “The draft no longer mentions support for independent producers. Yet it is precisely independent producers who stand at the heart of AgoraEU's three main objectives: contributing to cultural diversity, competitiveness and democracy.”

She also warned against the proposed budget structure: “By mixing support for audiovisual and film with news and disinformation, the programme loses clarity and predictability. Our sector needs stability and dedicated resources to plan and invest in culturally ambitious projects that carry Europe’s stories across the world.”

Producers are calling on EU co-legislators to reinstate independence as a mandatory condition for funding, to separate audiovisual budgets from news-related objectives, to restrict access to non-European entities and to reintroduce detailed annexes specifying support schemes, ensuring transparency and accountability.

“AgoraEU must not weaken what MEDIA has built up over decades,” Regnault stressed. “Europe’s cultural sovereignty depends on strong independent creation, and we stand ready to be constructive partners in shaping a programme that truly serves our cultural future.”

The signatories represent a broad spectrum of audiovisual professionals from across Europe, working to ensure that the voice of independent producers and creators is heard in European policy debates. In May 2025, the signatories also endorsed the Independent Production Charter, thereby establishing a set of common principles aimed at defending the European regulatory framework, resisting external pressures and supporting policies that safeguard the future of Europe’s cultural sovereignty.