FNE and UNIC Present EU Cinema Policy News
FNE has teamed up with the Brussels based team of the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) to bring you regular updates on EU cinema policies that impact all industry professionals across Europe.
Each two weeks the UNIC team of experts will update FNE readers with a selection of information on the most important developments in cinema policy in the areas of the Digital Single Market, copyright, new research on audience development, policy meetings and events and other vital information that the leaders of the European cinema need to keep abreast of to do their jobs.
These are issues that have an impact on all of us and will determine the future direction of our industry and indeed even its survival.
UNIC policy update 20/01/2021
COVID-19: EU response
07/01: Coronavirus response and recovery: EU support for regions to work together in innovative pilot projects – European Commission
The Commission has announced the winners of a new EU-funded initiative for interregional partnerships in four areas: coronavirus-related innovative solutions, circular economy in health, sustainable and digital tourism, and hydrogen technologies in carbon–intensive regions.
Creative Europe
12/01: Erasmus+, Creative Europe, European Solidarity Corps: Commitee confirms trilogue deals – European Parliament
The Culture and Education committee on Monday confirmed the provisional agreements with Council on Erasmus+, Creative Europe and European Solidarity Corps programmes for 2021-2027.
15/01: Creative Europe: 30 years of support to European films and cultural and creative media works – European Commission
The MEDIA strand of the EU programme Creative Europe, designed to support European film and audiovisual industries, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021. To mark this, the European Commission is launching a campaign to celebrate the 30 years of support, as well as the launch of the new MEDIA programme of Creative Europe, running from 2021 to 2027.
Portuguese Presidency
18/01: Portuguese Presidency Priorities 2021 – The Parliament Magazine
Sharing their views on what to expect as Lisbon takes the EU’s helm are Portuguese MEPs Pedro Silva Pereira, Maria Da Graça Carvalho, Maria-Manuel Leitão Marques, Carlos Zorrinho, Sara Cerdas, Nuno Melo, Francisco Guerreiro and Sandra Pereira.
Council of the EU
05/01: Remarks by President Charles Michel at the press conference with Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa in Lisbon – Council of the EU
09/01: The Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU kicks off with visit by President of the European Council – 2021 Portugal EU
On 5 January, the Prime Minister, António Costa, welcomed to Lisbon the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, for the first official meeting of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At the meeting, the two leaders discussed the priorities in the PPEU Programme and the calendar of dossiers to be handled by the Portuguese Presidency until June.
Events
18 – 21 January: European Parliament Plenary
21 January: EU Council meeting on coronavirus coordination efforts
25 & 26 January: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
UNIC policy update 18/12/2020
COVID-19: EU response
09/12: EU financing for 2021-2027: Political agreement on the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the Next Generation EU (NGEU) recovery instrument and new own resources – European Parliament
The briefing provides a graphic presentation of the political agreement reached on 10 November 2020 between the Parliament and the Council Presidency, enabling the EU to finance the extraordinary needs in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. It highlights the improvements that the European Parliament achieved in particular.
11/12: European Council in Brussels: Agreement on the budget and climate protection – EU 2020 DE
At the last European Council meeting during Germany’s Presidency of the Council, the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states have taken important decisions. Together, they set an ambitious new climate target and agreed on the multiannual financial framework and the recovery fund.
8/12: InvestEU Fund agreed: Boosting strategic, sustainable and innovative investments – European Parliament
EP and Council negotiators struck a deal on the new InvestEU programme, which supports investments and guarantees simplified access to financing.
04/12: EU Budget 2021 deal: supporting the recovery – European Parliament
MEPs have fought for and obtained better support for key EU programmes creating jobs, tackling the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and boosting climate action.
Geo-blocking
09/12: The Court of Justice annuls a Commission decision making binding the commitments offered by a company in order to preserve competition on the markets - CJEU
30/11: European Commission Geo-blocking review in line with latest studies supporting territoriality – UNIC website
Europe's film/AV sector welcomes the Commission's review of unjustified geo-blocking, in line with the latest studies supporting territoriality, and calls for an AV action plan that boosts European cooperation on financing and distribution, including through co-productions, to increase circulation of content.
Media and Audiovisual Action Plan
3/11: Digital Decade: Commission launches Action Plan to support recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sectors – European Commission
The Commission adopted an Action Plan to support the recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sector. These sectors, particularly hit by the coronavirus crisis, are essential for democracy, Europe's cultural diversity and digital autonomy. The Action Plan focuses on three areas of activity and 10 concrete actions, to help the media sector recover from the crisis by facilitating and broadening access to finance, transform by stimulating investments to embrace the twin digital and green transitions while ensuring the sector's future resilience and empower European citizens and companies.
COVID-19: Cultural and creative sectors (CCS)
01/12: Videoconference of EU culture and audiovisual ministers: “Creative Europe” to be strengthened – EU 2020 DE
Given the COVID-19 crisis, culture and the media are facing massive challenges. The plan to top up the Creative Europe assistance programme is an encouraging sign, declared Minister of State Monika Grütters. She chaired a meeting of EU ministers responsible for the cultural sector.
LUX Audience Award
13/12: LUX Award: three films shortlisted for the European Audience Film Award – European Parliament
During the virtual European Film Awards ceremony in Berlin, Another Round, Corpus Christi, and Collective were shortlisted for the LUX Audience Award.
Events
January 2021: Creative Europe MEDIA stakeholder dialogue (TBC)
11 January: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
11 January: European Parliament IMCO Committee meeting
25 & 26 January: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
UNIC policy update 01/12/2020
COVID -19: EU Response
25/11: MEPs call on EU leaders to end MFF deadlock without giving in on rule of law – European Parliament
EP group leaders and the Commission advise Hungary and Poland to take the EU to Court on rule of law, instead of penalising EU citizens by blocking the budget.
25/11: Streamlining public procurement within the EU for more efficient public spending – Council of the EU
The Council adopted a set of conclusions centred on how efficient public procurement rules and practices, combined with increased public spending, can accelerate the economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and lead to a sustainable and more resilient EU economy.
Copyright enforcement
24/11: EUIPO IP Perception study 2020 – EUIPO Observatory
To what degree are intellectual property rights respected, and in what form? The EUIPO tracks this through a series of wide-ranging and in-depth surveys, published at regular intervals, which – taken together – provide a full picture of the evolution of citizen perception of intellectual property rights in the EU.
EU Geo-blocking Regulation
30/11: Commission publishes its short-term review of the Geo-blocking Regulation – European Commission
The European Commission published the conclusions of its first short-term review of the 2018 Geo-blocking Regulation, which prohibits unjustified geographical restrictions in the sale of goods and services within the EU. This review includes the Commission report and the accompanying Staff Working Document (SWD).
EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)
23/11: Audiovisual Media: Commission opens infringement procedures against 23 Member States for failing to transpose the Directive on audiovisual content – European Commission
The European Commission launched infringement procedures against 23 Member States and the United Kingdom for failing to enact the new rules governing EU-wide coordination of all audiovisual media, both traditional TV broadcasts and on-demand services, and video-sharing platforms. These new EU rules aim to create a regulatory framework fit for the digital age, leading to a safer, fairer and more diverse audiovisual landscape.
Action Plan on Intellectual Property
26/11: Creativity Works! welcomes the IP Action Plan – Creativity Works!
Creativity Works!, a leading European coalition of the creative and cultural sectors, welcomes the 25 November Action Plan on Intellectual Property as a way of “making the most of the EU’s innovative potential”.
25/11: Commission adopts Action Plan on Intellectual Property to strengthen EU's economic resilience and recovery – European Commission
The Commission published a new Action Plan on Intellectual Property to help companies, especially small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), to make the most of their inventions and creations and ensure they can benefit our economy and society.
Accessibility
10/11: Open for feedback: Accessible web & digital content for people with disabilities – review of EU rules – European Commission
The Web accessibility directive aims to make public-sector websites and mobile applications in the EU more accessible to the public, particularly people with disabilities.
Events
1 December: Council of the EU - Culture and AV Ministers meeting
1 December: European Parliament ITRE Committee meeting
1 December: European Parliament JURI/FEMM Committee meeting
2 December: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
2 December: European Parliament IMCO Committee meeting
2 December: European Commission Media and Audiovisual Action Plan – TBC
3 December: European Parliament JURI Committee meeting
4 December: European Parliament Cultural Creators Friendship Group (CCFG) event
7 December: European Parliament JURI Committee meeting
9 December: European Commission proposal for the Digital Services Act package
10 December: European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) elections for the Advisory Board & workshop on inclusion and diversity
10-11 December: European Council Meeting
10 December: Know Your Business Customer: Protecting European consumers and businesses from online harms, webinar
14 December: Creative Europe trilogue
UNIC policy update 18/11/2020
EU MFF budget 2021-27
12/11: EU budget 2021: supporting a sustainable recovery from the pandemic – European Parliament
Next year’s budget - the first of the 2021-2027 financing period - should “promote fair, inclusive and sustainable growth, high-quality job-creation and its long-term goal of socioeconomic convergence”, MEPs state in their draft resolution following the vote.
10/11: Compromise on long-term EU budget: EP obtains €16 billion more for key programmes – European Parliament
EP budget negotiators and the Council Presidency have reached a compromise outlining a political agreement on future EU financing.
11/11: Long-term EU budget deal: a “win-win” result to face the challenges ahead – European Parliament
MEPs hailed the Parliament’s unity in the budget negotiations, which resulted in a deal reached on Tuesday that will bring additional funding for future jobs, competitiveness, and better climate protection - benefiting citizens, young people, researchers and health workers in times of crisis.
COVID-19: EU response
09/11: COVID-19: first go-ahead given to the new Recovery and Resilience Facility – European Parliament
MEPs adopted the Recovery and Resilience Facility, an instrument designed to help EU countries tackling the effects and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
12/11: Political agreement on EU budget and Next Generation EU recovery fund: What happens now? – EU 2020 DE
On 10 November, the negotiators for the Council of the European Union, under the German Presidency, and the European Parliament reached agreement on a comprehensive recovery fund to fight the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic as well as on the MFF 2021‑2027.
Copyright enforcement
10/11: Future EU intellectual property policy: Council adopts conclusions – Council of the EU
The Council adopted a set of conclusions on key elements of a future EU intellectual property policy. These conclusions should be seen as the Council's input to ongoing work within the Commission on an EU intellectual property action plan, expected to be presented shortly.
Competition
12/11: MEPs hail Commission’s decision to charge Amazon with breaching EU antitrust rules – The Parliament Magazine
This comes after EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager said the company had misused data of third-party merchants that rely on Amazon’s online marketplace to favour its own products.
Events:
19 November: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
19 November: European Parliament IMCO Committee meeting
19 November: European Council videoconference
20 November: UNIC takes part in an EFADs roundtable
20 November: Trilogues – EU budget
23 November: European Film Forum “The New Playbook: Resilience, Foresight, Transformation”, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival
1 December: European Parliament ITRE Committee meeting
2 December: European Commission legislative proposal for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan - TBC
10 December: European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) elections for the Advisory Board
UNIC policy update 04/11/2020
International Union of Cinemas (UNIC)
27/10: 2020 UNIC Annual Report now available! – UNIC website
The report details key cinema trends across the 38 territories UNIC represents, alongside the usual update on cinema-going last year and policy developments at EU level, as well as some information on UNIC and the work we do here in Brussels.
COVID-19: Creative & cultural sectors (CCS)
3/11: European Cinema Body demands further public funding support for cinemas during COVID-19 – UNIC website
Following recent decisions requiring the closure of cinemas across a number of European countries in response to ‘spikes’ in COVID-19, European trade body the International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) has today renewed its call to national governments, the European Commission and the European Parliament to provide further public funding support to the sector to ensure that cinemas are able to survive the ongoing challenges presented by the COVID-19 crisis.
30/10: Inclusion of culture in the Recovery & Resilience Facility - Letters from the cultural & creative sectors – UNIC website
10 organisations have written to the European Commission and National Governments to call for culture to be an integral part of their national recovery and resilience plans and for the cultural and creative sectors to receive at least 2% of the Recovery and Resilience Facility budget, as called for by the European Parliament in its recent Resolution on the “Cultural Recovery of Europe”.
COVID-19: EU response
30/10: Remarks by President Charles Michel after the video conference of the members of the European Council on 29 October 2020 – European Council
29/10: InvestEU Fund: boost for sustainable, innovative and social investment – European Parliament
InvestEU aims to be a fund that provides support to EU investors by integrating and simplifying the financing, offered under a single budgetary guarantee scheme.
29/10: Covid-19: 10 things the EU is doing for economic recovery – European Parliament
Find out what the EU is doing to help Europe get back on its feet following the devastating economic effects brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic.
29/10: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Michel, following the EU Leaders' videoconference on COVID-19 – European Commission
28/10: 2021 EU budget must focus on supporting a sustainable recovery from the pandemic – European Parliament
The main focus of the 2021 budget should be to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and support the recovery, building on the Green Deal and digital transformation.
28/10: EU budget talks: Council rejects Parliament’s breakthrough proposal – European Parliament
EP negotiators made a breakthrough proposal on the critical issue of how to count the costs of common debt in the next long-term EU budget. Council has rejected it blindly.
Copyright enforcement
/10: Report and study on the memorandum of understanding on online advertising and intellectual property rights – EAO newsletter
/10: CJEU: Opinion on copyright infringements through framing – EAO newsletter
EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)
/10: (SI) Slovenia’s draft AVMS law introduces obligations to invest in European works – EAO newsletter
Events
3 November: Video conference of the Eurogroup
4 November: Video conference of economics and finance ministers
9 November: AV coalition meeting with German Presidency
20 November: EFADs roundtable
2 December: European Commission legislative proposal for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Media and Audiovisual Action Plan - TBC
10 December: EAO elections for the Advisory Board
Recent studies
EAO - The number of European films making it from cinema to VOD is 2.6 times higher than the number of US films – November 2
UNIC policy update 19/10/2020
COVID-19: Creative & cultural sectors (CCS)
06/10: InvestEU - 26 organisations call for support for the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) – UNIC website
26 organisations from across Europe's cultural and creative sectors, including UNIC, have written to European Commissioners Thierry Breton (Internal Market) and Paolo Gentiloni (Economy) to urge the EU to ensure that the CCS will benefit from an appropriate level of support via InvestEU.
COVID – 19 : EU response
12/10: Coronavirus Dashboard: EU Cohesion Policy response to the coronavirus crisis – European Commission
The Commission announces the first provisional results of the implementation of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+).
09/10: COVID-19: Council agrees its position on the Recovery and Resilience Facility – Council of the EU
With a financial envelope of €672.5 billion, the facility will support public investments and reforms and contribute to economic, social and territorial cohesion within the EU. It will help member states address the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic whilst ensuring that their economies undertake the green and digital transitions, becoming more sustainable and resilient.
13/10: State aid: Commission prolongs and expands Temporary Framework to further support companies facing significant turnover losses – European Commission
The European Commission has decided to prolong and extend the scope of the State aid Temporary Framework adopted on 19 March 2020 to support the economy in the context of the coronavirus outbreak. All sections of the Temporary Framework are prolonged for six months until 30 June 2021, and the section to enable recapitalisation support is prolonged for three months until 30 September 2021.
07/10: European Commission to issue EU SURE bonds of up to €100 billion as social bonds – European Commission
The European Commission announced that it will issue its forthcoming EU SURE bonds of up to €100 billion as social bonds. To that end, the Commission has adopted an independently evaluated Social Bond Framework. This Framework is meant to provide investors in these bonds with confidence that the funds mobilised will serve a truly social objective.
EU Digital Services Act (DSA)
15/10: Parliament to outline its priorities for the future Digital Services Act – European Parliament
With the upcoming Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Union aims to shape the digital economy not only at EU level but also to be a standard-setter for the rest of the world, as it did with data protection. In two separate “legislative initiative” reports, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Legal Affairs committees call on the Commission to address and tackle current shortcomings in the online environment in its DSA package, due to be presented by the end of the year.
16/10: Why does the EU want to regulate the platform economy? – European Parliament
The platform economy brings benefits but also risks. Read about the issues the EU wants to solve with new rules and the solutions proposed by MEPs.
07/10: IMCO Report: Improving the functioning of the Single Market – European Parliament
Amendments available here.
05/10: JURI Report: Adapting commercial and civil law rules for commercial entities operating online – European Parliament
Amendments available here.
Events :
19-23 October: European Parliament Plenary, Brussels – vote on DSA reports in IMCO, LIBE and JURI
19 October: 18th EFARN (European Film Agency Research Network) meeting
19 October: FAPAV/MIA webinar “After the lockdown, restarting legality together” 15.00
20 October – Negotiations/Trilogue on the future Creative Europe Programme
20-22 October: EUIPO Observatory Working Group meetings
26-27 October: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
26-27 October: European Parliament IMCO Committee meeting
28 October: European Internet Forum event on geo-blocking
2 December: European Commission legislative proposal for the Digital Services Act (DSA) – TBC
Recent studies :
EP JURI - The impact of algorithms for online content filtering or moderation : "Upload filters" - September 2020
EAO - The European audiovisual industry in the time of COVID-19 - September 2020
UNIC policy update 29/09/2020
COVID-19 - Cultural and creative sectors
17/09: Next Generation EU support should go to hard-hit European culture, say MEPs – European Parliament
Parliament called for direct EU funding to support European culture and creators, who continue to be severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19 - EU response
25/09: COVID-19: Council approves €87.4 billion in financial support for member states under SURE – Council of the EU
The Council approved €87.4 billion of financial support to 16 member states in the form of EU loans under SURE – a temporary EU instrument to mitigate unemployment risks during the COVID-19 crisis.
24/09: Why is Parliament calling for new EU revenue-raising powers? – European Parliament
With negotiations underway on the EU’s 2021-2027 budget as well as the €750 billion Covid-19 recovery instrument, one of the main sticking points is the issue of own resources.
21/09: Read-out of the meeting between European Commission President von der Leyen, the President of the European Parliament David Sassoli, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in her capacity as rotating Presidency of the Council, 21 September – European Commission
EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)
/09: Guidelines on video-sharing platforms and European works under revised AVMSD – EAO newsletter
On 2 July 2020, the European Commission published two important sets of guidelines pursuant to the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) which extends audiovisual rules to what are termed video-sharing platforms (see IRIS 2019-1/3).
Taxation
25/09: Statement by Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager on the Commission's decision to appeal the General Court's judgment on the Apple tax State aid case in Ireland – European Commission
Events
30 September & 1 October: EUIPO Observatory Plenary meeting
1 October: European Parliament JURI Committee meeting (including vote on Digital Services Act Report)
1 October: European Parliament ITRE Committee meeting
12 & 13 October: UNIC Cinema Days online
19 October: 18th EFARN (European Film Agency Research Network) meeting
20-22 October: EUIPO Observatory Working Group meetings
28 October: European Internet Forum event on geo-blocking
2 December: European Commission legislative proposal for the Digital Services Act (DSA) - TBC
Recent Studies
EAO - The European audiovisual industry in the time of COVID-19 - September 2020
EAO - Copyright licensing rules in the European Union - August 2020
MUSO - Has the displaced cinema audience become the new piracy audience? – June 2020
UNIC policy update 06/08/2020
COVID-19 - EU response
29/07: Readout of the meeting between European Commission President von der Leyen, European Parliament President Sassoli and German Chancellor Merkel (rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union) – European Commission
27/07: Coronavirus: Commission launches call for innovative response and recovery partnerships between EU regions – European Commission
The aim of the call is to help regions catch the opportunities emerging from the crisis, develop resilience and build on green and digital transformation for the recovery of the most affected sectors, such as health and tourism.
23/07: EU long-term budget deal must be improved for Parliament to accept it – European Parliament
The recovery fund is a “historic move”, but long-term EU priorities such as the Green Deal and the Digital Agenda are put at risk, MEPs say.
21/07: European Council conclusions, 17-21 July 2020 – Council of the EU
On 21 July 2020, the European Council adopted conclusions on the recovery plan and multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027.
23/07: "This is historic. We renewed our marriage vows for 30 years. Europe is there, strong, standing tall" . Report by President Charles Michel at the European Parliament on the Special European Council of 17-21 July 2020 – Council of the EU
21/07: EU summit compromise: positive step for recovery, inadequate in the long-term – European Parliament
Commenting on the conclusions of the 17-21 July EU summit, EP negotiators welcome the recovery fund but warn that their agreement to the long-term EU budget cannot be taken for granted.
24/07: Four days, four nights: A look back on the special meeting of the European Council in July 2020 – EU 2020 DE
The first meeting in person of the Heads of State and Government of the EU since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic turned into a negotiating marathon. Instead of running two days as originally planned, the special meeting of the European Council lasted four days and nights, from 17 to 21 July.
22/07: REACT-EU: Council agrees on its partial negotiating position – Council of the EU
The EU is providing additional funding and flexibility in the use of the structural funds to help member states' recovery efforts following the COVID-19 outbreak.
Conference on the future of Europe
28/07: Senior MEP urges Member States to ensure that delayed Conference on Future of Europe starts in September – The Parliament Magazine
Mairead McGuinness, a Vice-President of Parliament, wants the Council to draw up its position on the planned conference “as soon as possible.”
EU State aid decisions
27/07: State aid: Commission approves € 866 million Czech scheme to support businesses affected by coronavirus outbreak – European Commission
23/07: State aid: Commission approves €2.6 billion Polish scheme to support companies affected by coronavirus outbreak – European Commission
Recent studies
EAO - Copyright licensing rules in the European Union - August 2020MUSO - Has the displaced cinema audience become the new piracy audience? – June 2020
Events
31 August: European Parliament CULT Committee meeting
1 September: European Parliament ITRE Committee meeting
2 September: European Parliament IMCO Committee meeting
2 September: European Parliament JURI Committee meeting
8 September: Digital Services Act consultation deadline
10 September: Copyright Article 17 consultation deadline
14 September: European Parliament Plenary session, Strasbourg
17 September: European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO) advisory board video-conference
UNIC policy update 20/07/2020
EU Summit – Recovery plan & Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-27
15/07: "A deal is essential. Now is the time" - Invitation letter by President Charles Michel to the members of the European Council ahead of their meeting on 17-18 July 2020 – Council of the EU
20/07: Special European Council: “There is much goodwill.” – EU2020DE
The Special European Council has once again been extended, with EU heads of state and government continuing their talks in Brussels on Monday. The focus remains on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the recovery fund to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 - Creative & cultural sectors
17/07: Open letter: A call to invest in all our creative futures - UNIC website
On 14 July, an open letter from by 45 European celebrated cultural figures was published ahead of the crucial EU leaders' meeting on the EU budget and recovery plan taking place from 18-18 July.
EU Summer 2020 Economic Forecast
07/07: Summer 2020 Economic Forecast: An even deeper recession with wider divergences – European Commission
The EU economy will experience a deep recession this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, despite the swift and comprehensive policy response at both EU and national levels. Because the lifting of lockdown measures is proceeding at a more gradual pace than assumed in our Spring Forecast, the impact on economic activity in 2020 will be more significant than anticipated.
Taxation
15/07: Fair and Simple Taxation: Commission proposes new package of measures to contribute to Europe's recovery and growth – European Commission
The European Commission has adopted an ambitious new Tax Package to ensure that EU tax policy supports Europe's economic recovery and long-term growth. The Package is built on the twin pillars of fairness and simplicity. Fair taxation remains a top priority for the European Commission, as a means of protecting public revenues, which will play an important role for the EU's economic recovery in the short-run and prosperity in the long-run.
15/07: The General Court of the European Union annuls the decision taken by the Commission regarding the Irish tax rulings in favour of Apple - CJEU
EU Platform to Business Regulation
10/07: New EU rules and guidance for a fairer online economy – European Commission
The Commission publishes a set of resources to help traders, online platforms and search engines get the most out of the new Platform to Business rules, which apply from this Sunday, 12 July. In addition, three progress reports prepared by the expert group for the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy are published for feedback. The reports will inform the broader work of the Commission on online platforms and in particular on the upcoming Digital Services Act package.
EU State Aid decisionsEU State Aid decisions
08/07: State aid: Commission approves German fund to enable up to €500 billion of liquidity and capital support to enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak – European Commission
08/07: State aid: Commission approves €6.2 billion Italian grants scheme to support small businesses and self-employed affected by coronavirus outbreak – European Commission
06/07: State aid: Commission approves Latvian fund to enable €100 million of liquidity and capital support to large enterprises affected by the coronavirus outbreak – European Commission
Events
17-20 July: EU Council Summit (EXTENDED)8 September: Digital Services Act consultation deadline
UNIC policy update 07/07/2020
COVID-19 - Cultural & creative sectors
22/06: Long-term EU budget: MEPs slam cuts to culture and education – European Parliament
The Culture and Education Committee criticised the cuts to education and cultural programmes made by the Commission in its new proposal for the 2021-2027 budget.
03/07: European Cultural Creators Friendship Group Manifesto – Cultural Creators Friendship Group (CCFG)
The group of 15 deputies, formed in February after the failure of the culture intergroup, published its manifesto on July 1. Adopted on June 3, it includes the promise of legislative proposals to better protect creators.
01/07: Open Letter to the EU Commission and the Member States, demanding support for the Cultural and Creative Sectors, particularly cultural creators, affected by the COVID-19 crisis - Cultural Creators Friendship Group (CCFG)
COVID-19 - EU response
02/07: Statement by President von der Leyen on reaching a swift and ambitious agreement on the European recovery package – European Commission
‘Reaching a swift and ambitious agreement on the European recovery package is the EU's highest priority for the coming weeks’, says in the statement.
30/06: Financing the recovery must not burden the next generation – European Parliament
Ahead of the start of the German Council Presidency and of the 17 July European Council, Budgets Committee Chair Van Overtveldt set out Parliament’s position on the long-term EU budget.
02/07: Investment Plan for Europe exceeds €500 billion investment target ahead of time – European Commission
The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group have delivered on their pledge to mobilise €500 billion in investment under the Investment Plan for Europe. Some 1,400 operations have been approved under the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), using a budget guarantee from the European Union and own resources from the EIB Group. They are expected to trigger close to €514 billion in additional investment across EU countries and to benefit some 1.4 million small and mid-sized companies.
01/07: Commission launches Youth Employment Support: a bridge to jobs for the next generation – European Commission
The Youth Employment Support package is built around four strands that together provide a bridge to jobs for the next generation: a reinforced youth guarantee, vocational education and training, a renewed impetus for apprenticeship, additional measures to support oyuth employment.
02/07: State aid: Commission prolongs EU State aid rules and adopts targeted adjustments to mitigate impact of coronavirus outbreak – European Commission
The European Commission has prolonged the validity of certain State aid rules which would otherwise expire at the end of 2020. In this context, and to take the effects of the current crisis into due consideration, the Commission, after consulting Member States, has decided to make certain targeted adjustments to the existing rules with a view to mitigate the economic and financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak on companies.
29/06: State aid: Commission expands Temporary Framework to further support micro, small and start-up companies and incentivise private investments – European Commission
The amendment extends the Temporary Framework to enable Member States to provide public support under the Temporary Framework to all micro and small companies, even if they were already in financial difficulty on 31 December 2019.
EU Digital Services Act (DSA)
30/06: Digital Services Act – deepening the internal market and clarifying responsibilities for digital services: Feedback from Google – European Commission
Google welcomes the opportunity to submit feedback to the Commission’s Inception Impact Assessment.
EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)
03/07: Commission takes further steps to promote European audiovisual works and protect vulnerable viewers – European Commission
The Commission adopted guidelines to help Member States implement the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The guidelines will offer a practical tool to ensure the promotion of European works in media content, thereby supporting cultural diversity and greater choice for European consumers. They will also help better protect users of video-on-demand and video-sharing platforms, particularly minors, against hate speech and harmful content.
Events:
7 July: Press conference by Commissioner Paolo GENTILONI on the Summer Forecast
8-10 July: European Parliament Plenary sitting, Brussels
8 July: CW! Meeting with Vice-President Vestager’s Cabinet
9 July: TBC new EU Council budgetary proposal
9 July: EUROGROUP video conference
10 July: Video conference of economic and financial affairs ministers
15 July: Postponed CJEU opinion on the YouTube copyright case
15/07: Audiovisual working group (Council)
15/07: AV coalition meeting with Commissioner Breton's cabinet
17-18 July: EU Council Summit
8 September: Digital Services Act consultation deadline
UNIC policy update 25/06/2020
COVID-19 - Cultural & creative sectors
18/06: Investing in Europe’s next generation by investing in culture – UNIC
As the EU has started discussing the proposed recovery plan, 99 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors are uniting their voices to alert EU leaders: our sector needs strong and systemic support measures to recover from this crisis.
08/06: Cinemas, COVID-19 and the EU Recovery Plan – UNIC blog
With the cinema sector one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis, it’s crucial that both European and national decisionmakers put the industry front and centre in terms of support mechanisms and funding opportunities.
COVID-19 - EU response
19/06: Sassoli calls for action on recovery: "Our citizens expect bold action" – European Parliament
Parliament President David Sassoli urged EU leaders to take action on Europe’s recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. Sassoli addressed heads of state and government at the start of a video conference of the European Council on 19 June to discuss the recovery plan and the EU’s next long-term budget.
19/06: COVID-19: Easing rules to encourage banks to lend to companies and households – European Parliament
On 18 June, Plenary approved the “quick fix” to the capital requirement regulation (CRR) to temporarily ensure favourable conditions for banks. This will support credit flows to companies and households and absorb losses, mitigating the economic consequences of the COVID-19 lock-down.
09/06: Q&A : Next Generation EU - Legal Construction – European Commission
08/06: Coronavirus: EU grants €314 million to innovative companies to combat the virus and support recovery – European Commission
The Commission announced that it has awarded nearly €166 million, via the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Pilot, to 36 companies set to combat the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, over €148 million will be granted to another 36 companies set to contribute to the recovery plan for Europe, bringing the total investment from Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation programme, to €314 million in this round.
European Parliament Plenary
17/06: Speech by President von der Leyen at the European Parliament Plenary on the preparations for the European Council of 19 June 2020, and the negotiations for a new partnership with the United Kingdom – European Commission
EU Digital Services Act (DSA)
05/06: Amendments on JURI DSA Draft Report (1-229 & 230-490) – European Parliament
Conference on the Future of Europe
18/06: Conference on Future of Europe should start “as soon as possible in autumn 2020” – European Parliament
Parliament urges the Council to “promptly come forward with a position on the format and organisation of the Conference” for citizens’ voices to be heard.
Events:
26 June: United for a new Future – Creatives Unite conference
1 July: Start of the German Presidency of the EU
15 July: Postponed CJEU opinion on the YouTube copyright case
Recent studies:
PEC - Digital Culture - Consumer Tracking Study (Wave 4 of 6) - May 2020
Renaissance numérique - Réguler les plateforms numériques: Pourquoi? Comment? - May 2020
UNIC policy update 12/06/2020
CineEurope
CineEurope online edition will take place on 17 & 18 June - CineEurope
CineEurope’s special online edition will take place on 17 & 18 June. The full programme can be found here. Some of the seminars lined up include an executive roundtable on “The Future of the Global Cinema Sector: Preparing for the New Normal”, a presentation on “Cinema's Strength...And the Way Back” and a very timely session on post-pandemic technologies. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit a virtual Trade Show floor and engage with the companies there. In addition, European and Hollywood studios and talents will join the convention with special messages and some surprises. The deadline for registrations is June 15.
COVID-19 - EU Recovery Plan & MFF 2021-2027
03/06: EU budget: Commission takes steps to make €11.5 billion available for crisis repair and recovery in 2020 - European Commission
The Commission has proposed modifications to its budget for 2020 to make €11.5 billion for crisis repair and recovery available already in 2020. Once available, the funds will go to help the regions most in need, support businesses and those in need outside EU borders.
05/06: Digital priorities for future of EU – EU2020HR
Meeting at their second informal video conference, telecommunications ministers held a policy debate on the EU’s digital priorities in the post COVID-19 era.
02/06: Statement by Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič at the press conference on sectoral MFF 2021–2027 proposal by the European Commission – European Commission
02/06: The EU’s long-term budget explained – European Parliament
How is the EU funded and what is the money used for? Read on to understand what the EU long-term budget is and how it is decided.
Accessibility
08/06: Parliament calls for a new ambitious EU Disability Strategy – European Parliament
As the current EU Disability Strategy comes to an end, Parliament is calling on the European Commission for an ambitious post-2020 strategy. Discover its priorities.
Events
15 June: The Commission to propose MFF Contingency Plan
17 & 18 June: CineEurope online
17-19 June: EP Plenary session
19 June: European Council to discuss the Recovery Fund and Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)
23 June: EAO Advisory Board members take part in a Q&A for the virtual Marché du Film
1 July: start of the German Presidency of the EU
15 July: Postponed CJEU opinion on the YouTube copyright case
