09/04/2014 - The European Film Agency Directors group intends to communicate more closely with the European Commission and Parliament, and is to hire a Brussels-based representative

At the recent meeting of the European Film Agency Directors (EFAD) in Paris, the members agreed that they would invest themselves fully in building the future of European film. There was a broad consensus that cultural and economic objectives are not contradictory. The main challenges faced by the audiovisual sector in a converging world necessitate a European answer. “We can no longer remain reactive, and we now need a new, proactive approach,” stated the EFAD members. They wish to learn from the year 2013, which was marked by difficulties with the European Commission, notably on the issue of state aid rules and on the negotiation of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

In view of the upcoming European elections and the designation of a new Commission, EFAD set out an agenda including the goals that they are aiming to accomplish. A major concern is how to regulate the new digital operators, especially the internet “giants” that do not contribute their fair share to European audiovisual creation. Illegal downloading and copyright protection are also issues that need to be addressed. The EFAD members want to develop new schemes at a European level in order to promote a coherent audiovisual strategy. They suggest initiatives aimed at increasing film literacy, reinforcing co-productions and promoting European films around the world.

The agenda follows certain principles, such as supporting cultural diversity and solidarity between European nations, but also a balance between traditional and new, digital audiovisual operators. “The competitiveness of the European audiovisual operators must be reinforced in a global economy facing the digital revolution,” underline the members. “The EU should foster, and not limit, national and European initiatives to support them, especially in the fields of VoD and film export towards developing markets.”

In order to start a meaningful dialogue with the European Commission and Parliament, EFAD will shortly hire a Brussels-based representative. It also suggests designating a single Commissioner who would be in charge of audiovisual policy and could coordinate the different related Commission departments, such as those for competition, internal market, trade, culture and the information society. An additional proposal is to set up a European Parliament intergroup which would focus on audiovisual issues.