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The Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe formally adopted the Council of Europe Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series (the Convention). This happy ending crowns four years of intense work by the Council of Europe, in which the European Producers Club was closely involved.

This new instrument is a great addition to the existing Convention on Cinematographic Co-production and presents several concrete benefits and in particular:
• It will foster co-productions of series by facilitating their access to national public funding support.
• It acknowledges the unique role of independent producers, i.e. those not controlled by an audiovisual media service provider, their creative input, the importance for them of retaining rights, and the value of partnerships with public and private audiovisual services.
• It includes an obligation to share audience data.

As the ratification process will start at the beginning of next year, EPC calls on the countries who are members of the Council of Europe to sign the Convention without delay.

Dariusz Jablonski, EPC President stated: “A joyful day for all independent producers! The adoption of this new Convention promises to be a great new tool for more coproductions led by independent producers in a creative role, keeping rights in their hands. The text is a model for fair value sharing supporting a truly diverse European audiovisual landscape. Our heartfelt thanks to the Council of Europe for its unwavering commitment to the freedom and independence of artistic expression”.

Julie-Jeanne Régnault, Managing Director of the EPC stated: “The EPC worked closely and hand in hand with CEPI on this major new framework placing European independent producers at its core, This Convention has the potential to opening new funding doors, creating a fairer and more dynamic framework that supports cultural diversity, pluralism and independent production. We thank every member state and all the stakeholders involved in the process for their hard work”