On Monday, June 30th and Tuesday, July 1st, an EPC Delegation held several high-level meetings at the European Commission and at the European Parliament in Brussels. They raised awareness about the challenges faced by independent producers, particularly in the context of ongoing US threats to the cultural exception and the EU’s audiovisual regulatory framework, as well as the finalisation of the future EU budget. The delegation underlined the unique role of independent producers in Europe—not only as drivers of cultural diversity, but also as contributors to growth and employment, and as promoters of EU values such as democracy, freedom of expression, and freedom of creation.
During the discussions, the delegation emphasised the EU’s pivotal role in upholding the European cultural exception and in championing cultural diversity across member states. They also highlighted the success of the Creative Europe–MEDIA Programme, which they argued must be reinforced in the next programming period to ensure continued support for the sector.
Moreover, the EPC representatives addressed the importance of properly implementing the AVMS Directive, noting the positive impact that financial obligations can have on the independent production sector. In this context, they called for urgent measures to ensure greater transparency in viewing data, stressing that such transparency would significantly benefit rights-holders.
They also drew attention to the crucial role of territorial exclusivities, explaining that these are essential not only to securing financing for independent projects but also to ensuring the effective circulation of European works. Finally, they underscored the pressing need to protect copyright in the age of generative AI, a concern that is rapidly becoming central to the sustainability of the audiovisual industry.
On Monday, the EPC delegation met with Mr. Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, and Ms. Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy. These exchanges were followed by a meeting with representatives of DG Trade, where they addressed the current US threats to cultural exception and to the integrity of the EU’s audiovisual regulatory framework.
The following day, the EPC Delegation met with Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament. The conversation revolved around the unique role of independent producers and the external pressures threatening the EU’s cultural exception and audiovisual environment.
Subsequently, the delegation engaged with key members of the CULT committee, including Vice-President Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski (EPP, PL), group coordinators Zoltan Tarr (EPP, HU) and Hannes Heide (S&D, AT), as well as MEPs Marcos Ros Sempere (S&D, ES), Regina Doherty (EPP, IE), David Casa (EPP, MT), and Thomas Bajada (S&D, MT).
With regard to AI-related issues, the delegation held meaningful exchanges with Axel Voss (EPP, DE), rapporteur on copyright and generative AI in the JURI committee, and Sandro Ruotolo (S&D, IT), CULT representative in the European Parliament AI Working Group. Together, they explored potential avenues for stronger cross-committee and cross-party support in favour of Europe’s independent production community.
Lastly, EPC representatives met with the team behind the LUX Audience Award. They reaffirmed EPC’s commitment to collaborating closely with the European Parliament to promote the prize, which celebrates the diversity of European film culture and independent cinema.
The Delegation was composed of Dariusz Jablonski, EPC President (Apple Film, Poland), Mariela Besuievsky, EPC Vice-President (Tornasol Media, Spain), Pandora da Cunha Telles, EPC Vice-President (Ukbar Filmes, Portugal), Carlotta Calori, EPC Vice-President (Indigo Films, Italy), Marc Missonnier, EPC Board Member and UPC President (Moana Films, France), Ed Guiney, EPC Board Member (Element Pictures, Ireland), Anika Psaila Savona, EPC Member (Falkunfilms, Malta), James Hickey, General Counsel of the EPC, Julie-Jeanne Régnault, Managing Director of the EPC, and Noémie Loiseau, Policy Assistant of the EPC.
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