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 07/11/2019
European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)
29/10: The Observatory launches two major studies on how SMEs and young Europeans perceive IP - EUIPO
The two EU-wide studies focus on the perceptions of IP among European citizens and are the second editions of the IP SME Scoreboard and Youth Scoreboard series, which were first released by the EUIPO in 2016.
EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027
24/10: Prime Minister Rinne and President-elect of the Commission von der Leyen discuss the finalisation of the EU’s next financial framework – eu2019.fi
On 24 October, Prime Minister Antti Rinne and President-elect of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met in Helsinki to discuss the finalisation of the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), i.e. the EU’s long-term budget (2021–2027), and the priorities of the next European Commission.
EU Copyright Directive
/10: Poland seeks annulment of Article 17 of the DSM Directive – EAO Newsletter
On 12 August 2019, Poland’s application to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) seeking annulment of a provision in the recently adopted Directive 2019/790 on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (DSM Directive) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The DSM Directive was adopted on 17 April 2019 and Poland’s action was brought on 24 May 2019. The application seeks annulment of two provisions under Article 17 of the DSM Directive concerning the liability of “online content-sharing service providers” for content uploaded by users.
Taxation
24/10: Get multinationals to disclose where they pay taxes, MEPs tell member states – European Parliament
MEPs adopted a resolution urging member states to work on long-overdue rules obliging multinationals to disclose what taxes they pay in each country.
European elections
29/10: Final turnout data for 2019 European elections announced – European Parliament
The official and final turnout of the 2019 European Elections is set at 50.66% (up 8.06 pp on 2014), following the publication all 28 final national turnout data.
Events
6-7 November: IMCO Committee meeting, Brussels
6-7 November: JURI Committee meeting, Brussels
11-12 November: ITRE Committee meeting, Brussels
21-22 November: Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council, Brussels
1 December: European Commission comes into office (TBC)
UNIC policy update 23/10/2019
EU Budget 2021-2027
09/10: Communication: Time to decide on the Union’s financial framework for 2021-2027 – European Commission
The European Commission’s contribution to the European Council meeting on 17-18 October 2019
Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU
18/10: Finland presented work on implementation of EU Strategic Agenda – eu2019.fi
The European Council discussed the follow-up to the Strategic Agenda for 2019–2024 in Brussels on 18 October 2019. Finland is now the first presidency to integrate the priorities of the Agenda, adopted in June, into the Council’s practical work. Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne informed the EU leaders of the progress made in the implementation.
European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO)
09/10: The independence of media regulatory authorities in Europe - EAO
Europe’s main piece of media legislation – the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) – was recently revised and a new version entered into force last autumn. This new AVMSD introduces an obligation for EU member states to designate one or more independent national regulatory authorities to oversee the broadcasting and audiovisual media sector in Europe.
10/10: Just ahead of BREXIT deadline, UK once again named the largest audiovisual market in greater Europe – EAO
European Audiovisual Observatory publishes 2018 Data on Audiovisual Media Services in Europe from the Mavise Database.
Events:
24 October: Second Shadow Rapporteurs’ meeting, Creative Europe Programme, Brussels (TBC)
4 November: UNIC/Europa Distribution/FERA/FIAD Screening, Brussels
4-5 November: CULT Committee meeting, Brussels
5 November: Second Copyright Stakeholders’ Dialogue, Brussels
5-6 November: Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue on Gender Balance in the Cultural & Creative Sectors Dialogue Meeting with the European Commission, Brussels
6 November: Optional fourth technical interinstitutional meeting, Creative Europe Programme, Brussels
6-7 November: IMCO Committee meeting, Brussels
6-7 November: JURI Committee meeting, Brussels
11-12 November: ITRE Committee meeting, Brussels
21-22 November: Education, Youth, Culture and Sports Council, Brussels
1 December: European Commission comes into office (TBC)
Recent Studies:
EUIPO - IPR-intensive industries and economic performance in the European Union - September 2019
EAO - Amazon is the biggest buyer of EU films for SVOD release outside of Europe - September 2019
European Parliament - Research for CULT Committee - Culture and creative sectors in the
European Union – Key future developments, challenges and opportunities
UNIC policy update 03/10/2019
European Parliament
17/09: Parliamentary leadership for the Digital Age – Parliament Magazine
MEPs will have to become more digitally literate than ever before if the EU is to maintain its digital leadership, writes Pilar del Castillo.
Digital Services Act
18/09: A Digital Roadmap for the next five years – Parliament Magazine
Europe’s policymakers should focus on encouraging tech firms and start-ups to be based here rather than seek confrontation, writes former ECR MEP Daniel Dalton
EU Terrorist Content Regulation
25/09: MEPs want internet firms to remove content promoting terrorism within an hour – European Parliament
On 24 September, Parliament's civil liberties committee backed the position agreed by the Parliament before May's European elections on new EU rules to tackle the dissemination of online content promoting terrorism and approved the mandate to begin discussions with EU ministers.
European Commission
10/09: How Parliament votes the European Commission into office (infographic) – European Parliament
MEPs will assess whether commissioner candidates can deliver on the challenges facing the EU in a series of public hearings.
27/09: Answers from Commissioners-designate to Parliament’s written questions – European Parliament
The Commissioners-designates’ answers to the written questions, posed by the Parliament’s committees, were received by Parliament.
27/09: Monday's commissioner hearings: Šefčovič, Hogan, Gabriel - European Parliament
Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia), Phil Hogan (Ireland) and Mariya Gabriel (Bulgaria) are the first candidate commissioners who appeared in hearings at the Parliament on Monday 30 September.
Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU
26/09: High-level conference on gender equality: Finland wants to integrate gender equality more closely with The EU’s economic policy – eu2019.fi
Finland organised a high-level gender equality conference in Helsinki from 30 September to 1 October 2019 in the context of Finland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The aim of the conference was to increase the dialogue between gender equality policy and economic policy and to strengthen gender equality in the EU’s decision-making.
Sustainability
20/09: Circular Plastics Alliance: 100+ signatories commit to use 10 million tons of recycled plastic in new products by 2025 - European Commission
The declaration lays out how the alliance will reach the target of 10 million tons of recycled plastic used to make new products every year in Europe, by 2025. This target was set by the European Commission in its 2018 Plastics Strategy, as part of its efforts to boost plastics recycling in Europe.
Federation of European Film and TV Directors (FERA)
Members of the Federation of European Film and TV Directors (FERA) from 27 countries gathered in Bucharest, Romania on September 20 to 22nd for its annual General Assembly.
Events
8 October: Commissioner-designate Margrethe Vestager hearing (ITRE/IMCO/ECON), Brussels
30 September: Trilogue, Creative Europe Programme
30 September: Extraordinary JURI Committee meeting, Brussels
1 October: CULT Committee meeting, Brussels
8 October: IMCO Committee meeting, Brussels
15 October: First copyright stakeholder meeting
16 October: CICI lunch w/ Sabine Verheyen & EPP MEPs, Brussels
17 October: ITRE Committee meeting, Brussels
1 November: European Commission comes into office
4 November: UNIC/Europa Distribution/FERA/FIAD Screening, Brussels
5-6 November: Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue on Gender Balance in the Cultural & Creative Sectors Dialogue Meeting with the European Commission, Brussels
UNIC policy update 20/09/2019
European Commission
10/09: The von der Leyen Commission: for a Union that strives for more – European Commission
President-elect Ursula von der Leyen presented her team and the new structure of the next European Commission.The new Commission will reflect the priorities and ambitions set out in the Political Guidelines.
Copyright enforcement
/09: IPR Enforcement Case-Law Collection - The liability and obligations of intermediary service providers in the European Union - EUIPO
This case-law collection provides an overview of the latest developments in this fast evolving area and of the main conclusions of selected cases including decisions of the Court of Justice of the European Union and of national courts issued between 2016 and the beginning of 2019.
Competition
5/09: EU competition rules on horizontal agreements between companies – evaluation - European Commission
Feedback period open between 05 September 2019 - 03 October 2019 .
Events
24 September: CULT Committee meeting, European Parliament, Brussels
25 September: IMCO Committee meeting, European Parliament, Brussels
25-26 September: JURI Committee meetings, European Parliament, Brussels
25-26 September : EUIPO Observatory Plenary Meeting, Alicante
25-56 September: JURI Committee meetings, European Parliament
30 September – 8 October: Hearings of candidate Commissioners
30 September: Trilogue, Creative Europe Programme
15 October: First copyright stakeholder meeting
1 November: European Commission comes into office
4 November: UNIC/Europa Distribution/FERA/FIAD Screening, Brussels
5-6 November: Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue on Gender Balance in the Cultural & Creative Sectors Dialogue Meeting with the European Commission, Brussels
Recent Studies
European Parliament - Research for CULT Committee - Culture and creative sectors in the
European Union – Key future developments, challenges and opportunities - September 2019
Chapman University, Carnegie Mellon University - The Effect of Piracy Website Blocking on Consumer Behavior - August 2019
EAO - The circulation of European films outside Europe - Key figures 2017 - August 2019
EAO - European films and TV content get 27% of TVOD prominence - July 2019
EAO - The theatrical – TVOD window: A sample analysis - June 2019
UNIC policy update 09/07/2019
Call for application
04/07: Call for proposals: Preparatory Action "Cinemas as Innovation Hubs for Local Communities" – European Commission
The Commission is launching a 2M € call for proposals to create innovative cultural hubs around cinema theatres, notably in areas where there is limited cinema and cultural infrastructure.
EU Geo-Blocking Regulation
27/06: Digital Single Market: Survey shows Europeans are well aware of rules against unjustified geo-blocking – European Commission
Seven months after new rules against unjustified geo-blocking began to apply, general consumer awareness of the new rules against restrictions for online shopping and cross-border sales is already high.
EU Top Jobs
03/07: EU Top jobs: Class of 2019 biographies – The Parliament Magazine
The European Council discussed and agreed on nominations for the EU's top jobs at the Special European Council on 30 June, 1 and 2 July 2019 in Brussels. The European Council elected Charles Michel as the new President of the European Council and proposed Ursula von der Leyen as candidate for the President of the European Commission.
European Parliament
03/07: The new European Parliament Vice-Presidents – European Parliament
All 14 European Parliament Vice-Presidents were elected in three rounds of voting for a two-and-a-half-year term. Eleven Vice-Presidents were elected in the first ballot, two in the second and the remaining one by a relative majority in the third.
04/07: Full members of the Culture and Education Committee announced – European Parliament
MEPs approved the size of all Parliament’s committees and subcommittees. The Committee on Culture and Education will consist of 31 MEPs.
04/07: EP Quaestors elected, Parliament Bureau complete – European Parliament
The five new Quaestors for the first two and a half years of the 9th legislative term were elected by acclamation in Strasbourg.
02/07: Parliament starts new term with seven political groups – European Parliament
Ever since the results of the European elections have been in, newly-elected MEPs have been organising themselves into political groups, which bring together representatives from different EU countries based on their political affinities. MEPs have formed seven political group.
Creative Europe Media
/07: Creative Europe MEDIA publishes an overview of good gender practices – EAO Newsletter
During the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, the European Commission, represented by Creative Europe MEDIA, launched the first edition of “Women on the Move” day, unveiling a brochure summarising gender-equality good practices followed by the EU’s audiovisual industry and policymakers.
Events
10 July: CULT, JURI, ITRE, IMCO Committees’ constitutive meetings, Brussels
15-18 July: Second European Parliament Plenary, Strasbourg
16 July: European Parliament vote on Commission Presidency, Strasbourg
10-11 September: Finnish Presidency conference - Creation, innovation and promotion – competitiveness of European audiovisual industry, Helsinki
25-26 September: EUIPO Observatory PLenary Meeting, Alicante
September/October: Hearings of candidate Commissioners
October/November: Election of new European Commission
1 November: European Commission comes into office
UNIC policy update 14/06/2019
Single Market
27/05: Council calls for an ambitious approach for a competitive single market - Council of the EU
The Council adopted conclusions on "A new level of ambition for a competitive single market". These conclusions are the Council's response to recent calls from the European Council for an integrated, forward-looking approach to the single market, which should connect all relevant policies and remove remaining unjustified barriers and avoiding creating new ones, in particular on freedom to provide services and on digitalisation.
2020 EU Budget
05/06: EU budget 2020: Commission focuses its proposal on jobs, growth and security – European Commission
The Commission has today proposed an EU budget of €168.3 billion for 2020 for a more competitive European economy, and for solidarity and security in the EU and beyond.
05/06: Draft EU Budget 2020 – Questions and Answers – European Commission
The goal of the proposed 2020 EU budget is to contribute to a more competitive European economy, and to ensure solidarity and security in the EU and beyond. It is designed to optimise funding for existing programmes as well as new initiatives and to boost the European added value in line with the Juncker Commission's priorities. See other questions and answers at the above link.
European Commission
06/06: Manfred Weber hits back at criticism of his suitability to be next European Commission president – The Parliament Magazine
Weber’s comments come against a backdrop of growing calls from senior political figures for an alternative candidate for the EU’s top job.
Council of the EU
07/06: Post-2020 digital policy − Council adopts conclusions – Council of the EU
Today the Council adopted conclusions on the future of a highly digitised Europe beyond 2020: 'Boosting digital and economic competitiveness across the Union and digital cohesion'.
EU Elections 2019
31/05 : A new European order - Setting the political agenda for the next 5 years – Europe Analytica
The run-up to the 2019 European elections has been long and filled with projections, campaigning, debates and rallies - some more successful than others. After European citizens cast their votes between 23 and 26 May, it is now the time to take stock of the results and analyse their impact on the Parliament and the European Union as a whole.
Events
17-20 June: CineEurope 2019, Barcelona
17 June: European film Forum @ CineEurope (Barcelona)
17 June: EAO conference - "Cinema windows across Europe," Rome
19-20 June: Conference on New Challenges regarding Copyright in the Digital Single Market, Bucharest
20-21 June: European Council Summit
21 June: Provisional deadline for Commission Presidency
24 June: Composition of European Parliament political groups
1 July: Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU
2-4 July: First European Parliament Plenary, Strasbourg
15-18 July: Second European Parliament Plenary, Strasbourg
10-11 September: Finnish Presidency conference - Creation, innovation and promotion – competitiveness of European audiovisual industry, Helsinki
September/October: Hearings of candidate Commissioners
October/November: Election of new European Commission
1 November: European Commission comes into office
UNIC policy update 31/05/2019
EU Copyright Directive
20/05: How to Implement Article 17 DSMD? Have Your Say! - Kluwer Copyright Blog
A pilot debate organised on June 13 to discuss Article 17 (ex-13) of the Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive (DSMD) and its implementation.
20/05: Open Letter: Copyright Working Group Must Include NGO Voices - Civil Liberties Union for Europe
The open letter signed by Liberties and more than 40 other human and digital rights organizations calls for their inclusion in the implementation process of the EU Copyright Directive.
EU Online Broadcasting Directive
17/05: Creativity Works! reiterates the importance of territorial exclusivity for the creation, financing, production and distribution of creative content - Creativity Works!
Following the final adoption of the Online Broadcasting Directive, Creativity Works! issued a statement to reiterate and stress the importance of the territoriality of copyright and exclusive licensing to the creative sectors in Europe and to protect these principles going forward.
Audiovisual Policy - Council conclusions
22/05: Draft Council conclusions on improving the cross-border circulation of European audiovisual works, with an emphasis on co-productions - Council of the European Union
The Audiovisual Working Party has prepared the draft conclusions with a view to their adoption at the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.
EU Single-use Plastics Directive
21/05: Council adopts ban on single-use plastics - Council of the European Union
The EU is cracking down on plastic pollution. The Council adopted a directive which introduces new restrictions on certain single-use plastic products. The formal adoption of the new rules by the Council is the final step in the procedure.
EU Elections
27/05: Voter turnout in EU elections up 10 per cent on previous vote - The Parliament Magazine
EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has sounded a note of caution over the larger-than-expected turnout in the European elections.
27/05: 2019 European election results - European Parliament
The election results including seats per political group and country are presented.
Culture
20/05: Joint Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner for Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Tibor Navracsics on the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development - European Commission
Events
7 June: European Film Forum @ Transilvania International Film Festival (Cluj-Napoca)
12-13 June: International Forum on IP Enforcement, Paris
13 June: IPKat/BLACA – 'The EU DSM Directive: End of the Story?', London
13 June: European Copyright Roundtable: 'How to implement Article 17 DSMD?'
17-20 June: CineEurope 2019, Barcelona
19-20 June: Conference on New Challenges regarding Copyright in the Digital Single Market, Bucharest
20-21 June: European Council Summit
24 June: Composition of European Parliament political groups
1 July: Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU
2-4 July : First European Parliament Plenary, Strasbourg
15-18 July : Second European Parliament Plenary, Strasbourg
- Possible election of European Commission President
21-24 October: Election of new European Commission
UNIC policy update 10/05/2019
EU Broadcasting Directive
/05: Directive on copyright and online transmissions of broadcasting organisations and retransmissions of television and radio programmes – EAO Newsletter
The stated purpose of the Directive under the new Article 1 is to lay down rules to enhance cross-border access to a greater number of television and radio programmes by facilitating the clearance of rights for the provision of online services that are ancillary to the broadcast of certain types of television and radio programmes and for the retransmission of television and radio programmes.
Competition
/05: Court prohibits arbitrary changes to pay-TV programme package – EAO Newsletter
In a recently published judgment of 17 January 2019 (Case no. 12 O 1982/2018), the Landgericht München (Munich district court) decided that customers were unreasonably disadvantaged by a unilateral, groundless change to programme packages sold by pay-TV provider Sky Deutschland.
EU Elections
03/05: European Elections 2019 Campaign Tracker – European Parliament
To help media keep track of the European election campaigns, the EP Press service provides a daily newsfeed on country-specific electoral facts, events and debates in all member states.
02/05: European elections: unprecedented viewing figures for Parliament’s campaign film – European Parliament
With over 75 million views in a week, the film "Choose Your Future", part of an EP awareness campaign based on the feeling of togetherness, has had an exceptional impact.
Events:
18 May: European Audiovisual Observatory event, Cannes Film Festival
18 May: Creative Europe MEDIA, Cannes Film Festival:
– “European Authors’ Remuneration – Where do We Stand?” Panel discussion (10 am)
– EAO presentation on the newly launched online platform LUMIERE VOD (5 pm)
19 May: Europa Cinemas conference, Cannes Film Festival
19 May: CNC, Cannes Film Festival
– The CNC Rendezvous (11.30 am)
– SACD-CNC round-table: What does the future hold for cinema in a world dominated by platforms? (3.30 pm)
20 May: Creative Europe MEDIA, Cannes Film Festival:
– “Copyright Conundrum”: Chat with Giuseppe Abbamonte, Director Media Policy, EC (10 am)
– "Audiovisual Markets: Trends & Investments”: Panel discussion (11.15 am)
– “A Europe of Talents – Empowering Creativity” European Film Forum (3 pm)
21 May: Creative Europe MEDIA, Cannes Film Festival
– Presentation by NutAlone, digital platform for European indie films (10 am)
– CannesXR (5 pm)
22-23 May: Council of the EU - Education, Youth, Culture & Sports Council
23-26 May: EU Elections 2019
7 June: European Film Forum
12-13 June: International Forum on IP Enforcement, Paris
17-20 June: CineEurope 2019, Barcelona
19-20 June: Conference on New Challenges regarding Copyright in the Digital Single Market, Bucharest
1 November: Deadline for appointment of new European Commission
UNIC policy update 23/04/2019
EU Copyright Directive
15/04: Statements on EU Copyright Directive: The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Poland, Italy & Finland; Estonia; Germany – Council of the EU
The objectives of this Directive were to enhance the good functioning of the internal market and to stimulate innovation, creativity, investment and production of new content, also in the digital environment. The signatories support these objectives.
15/04: EU adjusts copyright rules to the digital age – Council of the EU
The EU is amending its legal framework on copyright to make it fit-for-purpose in today's digital environment. The Council today adopted a directive that modernises existing EU copyright law to pave the way towards a true digital single market. The new rules ensure adequate protection for authors and artists, while opening up new possibilities for accessing and sharing copyright-protected content online throughout the European Union.
EU Broadcasting Directive
15/04: EU set to enhance cross-border access to online content – Council of the EU
The EU is taking steps to increase the number of TV and radio programmes available online for European consumers. The Council adopted a directive which will facilitate the licensing of copyright-protected material contained in such programmes so that they can be made available throughout the EU.
EU Terrorist Content Regulation
17/04: Terrorist content online should be removed within one hour, says EP – European Parliament
Internet companies should remove terrorist content within one hour after receiving an order from the authorities, to combat radicalisation and contribute to public security.
Culture
16/04: CULT Activity Report 2014-2019 – CULT Committee
European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education has published its activity report for the past five years.
Creative Europe MEDIA/European Audiovisual Observatory
16/04: LUMIERE VOD: launch of the first directory of European films to increase transparency concerning the VOD markets - EAO
Launched by the European Commission with the European Audiovisual Observatory who is managing the project, this new directory of European films will help professionals, the public authorities and citizens to find information about European films and their availability on-line in video-on-demand (VOD) services throughout the European Union.
16/04: Factsheets on LUMIERE VOD: the first online directory of European films – European Commission
The European Commission launched a new Directory of European films that aims to help professionals, public authorities and citizens to find out information about European films more easily and to know about their availability online.
Horizon Europe
17/04: Statement by Commissioner Moedas on the European Parliament's vote on Horizon Europe – European Commission
The European Parliament endorsed the provisional agreement reached by the co-legislators on Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme for the next budget period from 2021 to 2027.
Council of the EU
16/04: The Informal Meeting of the Ministers of Culture in Bucharest – romania2019.eu
Within the framework of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the informal meeting of the EU Ministers of Culture took place on 16 April 2019, at the Palace of Parliament, in Bucharest.
InvestEU
18/04: ‘InvestEU’ programme: big boost for jobs, growth and investment – European Parliament
MEPs have approved a provisional and partial deal with EU ministers on a new EU programme to support investment and access to finance during 2021-2027.
Events
18 May: European Audiovisual Observatory event, Cannes Film Festival
19 May: Europa Cinemas conference, Cannes Film Festival
23-26 May: EU Elections 2019
17-20 June: CineEurope 2019, Barcelona
UNIC policy update 02/04/2019
EU Copyright Directive
27/03: European Parliament approves new copyright rules for the internet – European Parliament
Creatives and news publishers will be empowered to negotiate with internet giants thanks to new copyright rules which also contain safeguards on freedom of expression.
26/03: Texts adopted (provisional edition): Copyright in the Digital Single Market – European Parliament
Full text of the European Parliament legislative resolution of 26 March 2019 on the proposal for a
directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on copyright in the Digital Single Market.
27/03: Questions and Answers on issues about the digital copyright directive – European Parliament
This Q and A provides answers to some of the more regularly raised issues regarding the directive on copyright in the digital single market.
26/03: Copyright reform: the Commission welcomes European Parliament's vote in favour of modernised rules fit for digital age – European Commission
The European Parliament voted in favour of the new Copyright Directive designed to bring tangible benefits to citizens, all creative sectors, the press, researchers, educators, and cultural heritage institutions.
Creative Europe Programme 2021-2027
28/03: Creative Europe: Parliament votes for mobility of artists and circulation of works – European Parliament
MEPs voted on Thursday to double the budget of the 2021-2027 Creative Europe programme and to enhance international circulation of works, supporting better mobility for artists.
28/03: Cultural and creative sectors contribute to youth employment and to social cohesion, says S&D MEP Silvia Costa – S&D Group
The European Parliament backed the report drafted by S&D MEP Silvia Costa to strengthen the Creative Europe programme for the period 2021 to 2027.
EU Broadcasting Directive
28/03: More online radio and news broadcasts across borders – European Parliament
Plenary approved on Thursday the new rules facilitating online broadcasting of current affairs and radio programmes across the EU.
28/03: Commission welcomes European Parliament's vote on new rules facilitating access to online TV and radio content across borders – European Commission
Following the European Parliament's approval of modernised copyright rules earlier this week, today the Parliament endorsed another crucial piece of legislation to make the copyright rules fit for the digital age. The Commission welcomes the positive vote for the Directive that will simplify cross-border distribution and retransmission of television and radio programmes.
28/03: Questions and answers: Directive on television and radio programmes – European Commission
This Q and A provides answers to some of the more regularly raised issues regarding the directive on television and radio programmes.
EU Single-use Plastics Directive
27/03: Parliament seals ban on throwaway plastics by 2021 – European Parliament
Parliament approved a new law banning single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds sticks.
27/03: Circular Economy: Commission welcomes European Parliament adoption of new rules on single–use plastics to reduce marine litter – European Commission
The European Parliament agreed on the ambitious measures proposed by the Commission to tackle marine litter coming from the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on European beaches, as well as abandoned fishing gear and oxo-degradable plastics.
Group positions & responses: EPP Group, S&D Group, ECR Group
EU Elections 2019
29/03: Projections of seats of next Parliament – European Parliament
In collaboration with Kantar Public, Parliament’s Public Opinion Monitoring Unit is allocating projected seats calculated on the basis of voting intentions polls from each member state to Parliament´s currently existing political groups.
Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU
27/03: Ensuring young people’s access to culture and supporting creativity – important priorities for the Romanian Presidency of the EU Council – Romania2019.eu
The conference placed an emphasis on the importance of encouraging young people’s creativity at European level, as a prerequisite for facilitating their insertion on the labour market, and also for enhancing social inclusion, active citizenship and civic responsibility.
European Audiovisual Observatory
28/03: European Audiovisual Observatory announces this year’s Cannes conference! - EAO
The conference will look at how today’s European films are financed. Who are the new financial players? How does public policy channel money into film funds and financing mechanisms? How is the structure of film financing in Europe changing?
InvestEU
27/03: InvestEU: EU ambassadors confirm common understanding reached with Parliament – Council of the EU
EU ambassadors confirmed the common understanding reached by the Romanian Presidency and the European Parliament on InvestEU, which will bring together under one programme 14 different financial instruments currently available to support investment in the EU.
Events
8-12 April: EUIPO Working Group meetings, Alicante
24 April (TBC): EU Terrorist Content Regulation Committee Vote (LIBE)
23-26 May: EU Elections
17-20 June: CineEurope 2019, Barcelona – Register here!
Recent Studies
EUIPO – Trends in Trade in Counterfeit and Pirated Goods – March 2019European Audiovisual Observatory – Mapping of national rules for the promotion of European works in Europe – February 2019Göteborg Film Festival - 6th Nostradamus Report – “Relevance in a New Reality” - February 2019 Institute for Information Law (IViR) - Film Financing and the Digital Single Market: its Future, the Role of Territoriality and New Models of Financing - January 2019
UNIC policy update 15/03/2019
EU Copyright Directive
26/02: Copyright: MEPs back provisional agreement – European Parliament
The Legal Affairs Committee approved the reform of EU copyright rules provisionally agreed with EU Ministers.
Antitrust
07/03: Antitrust: Commission accepts commitments by Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Sky on cross-border pay-TV services – European Commission
The European Commission has made commitments offered by Disney, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. and Sky legally binding under EU antitrust rules. These commitments address the Commission's concerns regarding certain clauses in these studios' film licensing contracts for pay-TV with Sky UK.
Circulation & Promotion of European Films
26/02: European movies on the move: ten actions for better circulation across Europe – European Commission
The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) group of experts on circulation of films has published a paper featuring good practices and recommendations to enhance the circulation of European films across the EU.
Gender Balance
08/03: Public Consultation – Gender equality in the EU – European Commission
The Commission is launching a public consultation to gather opinions from all interested groups about the current situation regarding gender equality in the EU and the priorities for the next 5 years.
07/03: Statement by the European Commission on the occasion of International Women's Day 2019 – European Commission
“Women remain underrepresented in politics. In the upcoming European elections, we would like to see more women across the EU not only voting, but standing and succeeding as candidates. The Commission also calls for more women to be represented in the highest level of all EU institutions, including as Commissioners”, states the European Commission Statement.
2019 European Elections
05/03: Party leaders to join ECR group after EU elections – The Parliament Magazine
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, who leads French party Debout la France, and Thierry Baudet, who leads Dutch party Forum for Democracy, both signed declarations with ECR co-leader, Ryszard Legutko.
Moldova
/03: New Audiovisual Code – EAO Newsletter
The new law replaces an earlier Audiovisual Code from 2006 (see IRIS 2006-9/27). It brings national legislation more into line with the AVMS Directive, especially in the fields of the protection of minors, the protection of consumers (commercial communications), incitement to hatred, events of major importance, the right of reply, material scope, jurisdictional issues, non-linear audiovisual media services, and the promotion of European works.
Studies & Data
/03: EFARN Film Research Library: Studies & data from the European film agencies – EFARN
Events
14 March: EAO Advisory Committee Meeting
25-28 March: EU Single Use Plastics Directive - European Parliament plenary sitting
27 March: EU SatCab Directive - European Parliament plenary vote (TBC)
27 March: 28 Shades of AVMSD - A Changing and Challenging Digital Market
27/28 March: EU Copyright Directive - European Parliament plenary vote (TBC)
8-12 April: EUIPO Working Group meetings
23-26 May: EU Elections
UNIC policy update 22/02/2019
EU Copyright Directive
13/02: Agreement reached on digital copyright rules – European Parliament
Creatives and news publishers will be empowered to negotiate with internet giants thanks to a deal reached on copyright rules which also contains safeguards on freedom of expression.
13/02: EU copyright rules adjusted to the digital age – European Council
The EU is amending its copyright legal framework to make it fit-for-purpose in today's digital environment. Representatives of the Romanian presidency of the Council reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on a draft directive that introduces changes to existing EU copyright rules as part of creating a true EU digital single market.
13/02: Digital Single Market: EU negotiators reach a breakthrough to modernise copyright rules – European Commission
The European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the Commission found a political agreement to make the copyright rules fit for digital era in Europe and bring tangible benefits to all creative sectors, the press, researchers, educators, cultural heritage institutions, and citizen.
EU Platform-to-Business Regulation
14/02: Online platforms required by law to be more transparent with EU businesses – European Parliament
EU lawmakers agreed on a set of measures to halt unfair practices in the digital market. More than a million EU enterprises trade via platforms to reach their customers.
14/02: Questions and answers – EU negotiators agree to set up new European rules to improve fairness of online platforms’ trading practices – European Commission
EU Elections 2019
18/02: First seat projections for the next European Parliament – European Parliament
Parliament released the first seat projections, based on a cross-section of national polls, for the composition of the next (9th) European Parliament.
Romanian Presidency of the Council of the EU
12/02: Romanian EU Council Presidency: Presenting a united front – The Parliament Magazine
The Romanian EU Council Presidency comes at a time of multiple challenges for Europe, writes Claudia Ţapardel.
Events
19-20 March: EP Creative Week
25 March: EU SatCab Directive - European Parliament plenary sitting
25-28 March: EU Single Use Plastics Directive - European Parliament plenary sitting
8-12 April: EUIPO Working Group meetings
