23/01/2008

At the 2008 general budget vote in the European Parliament, it was decided that €2m should be earmarked for the implementation of a Preparatory Action initiative in the audiovisual field, with the aim of strengthening relations between European audiovisual industries and those of third non-European countries.

The main components of the initiative are threefold at this stage:

Continuous training for professionals, promoting the creation of company initiatives and institutions that offer training to professionals in the European audiovisual sector based in non-European countries and, at the same time, help the professionals from those countries to come and receive training in Europe.

The distribution, marketing and promotion of audiovisual works, aimed at boosting the circulation of European films on the distribution markets of third countries.

The promotion and creation of cinema networks in third countries whose programme includes a significant proportion of European films.

The EU Commission intends to publish its first Call for Proposals in the Official Bulletin in April of this year, with a deadline for the submission of applications set for the end of June 2008.

For the moment, this is merely a preparatory action that is not yet part of MEDIA 2007. However, if the Parliament approves the action, it is expected that a programme will be set up specifically aimed at promoting European cinema beyond the borders of the European Community.

It is possible that if the action is sanctioned, its scope may be extended to the co-production field, thus forming a truly broad network of relations with non-European countries in the audiovisual sphere.

(Translated from Spanish)