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 02/06/2022

Cannes Film festival

STATEMENT - CONSTANT GARDENERS: The Realities of Today’s Film Sector in Europe
Cannes, 24th May 2022 – Key players show their commitment to the art of cinema and its unique power and magic to move audiences, by stimulating their curiosity, by exploring other realities, emotions and concepts.
UNIC – 24 May

The European Commission meets audiovisual industry at the Cannes Film Festival
Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton attends the Cannes Film Festival to meet representatives of the audiovisual industry, take stock of the EU support to the sector, and present his vision to build Europe’s cultural sovereignty.
European Commission – 17 May

General Assembly Of CICAE In Cannes: Board And Members Of The International Confederation Of Arthouse Cinemas Discuss Future Of Art House Exhibition
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, CICAE members and the Board of Directors reconvened again in person at the annual General Assembly. The gathering of the CICAE in Cannes was used to deliberate on how to further develop strategies to strengthen the visibility of film diversity in times of major market shifts, societal changes and the climate crisis, and how cinema can regain its role as a central cultural institution in urban areas.

CICAE – 20 May

Media and AV Action Plan

EFF in Cannes 2022: Fostering Europe’s cultural autonomy through investment and IP exploitation: MediaInvest
Taking place during the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, the European Film Forum (EFF) focused on how to secure European audiovisual competitiveness at global level, in particular through private investment in the sector, in a context of profound changes for the industry.
European Commission - 20 May

Copyright in the Digital Single Market Directive

Commission sends reasoned opinions to 13 Member States for failure to transpose CDSM Directive into national law
Last week, the European Commission sent reasoned opinions to 13 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, France, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden) for failure to notify the Commission of transposition measures on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market (Directive (EU) 2019/790) (CDSM Directive).
Kluwer Copyright Blog - 28 May

Copyright: Commission urges Member States to fully transpose EU copyright rules into national law
Today, the Commission has decided to send reasoned opinions to Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia and Finland over their failure to notify the Commission of transposition measures on copyright and related rights applicable to certain online transmissions (EU Directive 2019/789).
European Commission – 19 May

Audiovisual Media Services Directive

Audiovisual Media Services Directive: Commission refers five Member States to the Court of Justice of the EU
The European Commission has today decided to refer Czechia [INFR 2020/0510], Ireland [INFR 2020/0531], Romania [INFR 2020/0555], Slovakia [INFR 2020/0563] and Spain [INFR 2020/0521], to the Court of Justice of the European Union over the failure to transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive (“AVMSD”, Directive (EU) 2018/1808), with a request to impose financial sanctions in accordance with Article 260(3) TFEU.
European Commission – 19 May

Investing in European works: the obligations on VOD providers
Online services are cross-border per nature, at least from a technical standpoint. As such, VOD services can reach virtually any country on the planet, with no natural barriers or frequency shortage to prevent this. That is, if the law of the land allows it.
EAO – 24 May

Events:

8 June - LUX European Audience Film Award 2022 winner announcement in the European Parliament hemicycle in Strasbourg, France.

14 June - UNIC & FIAD Screening - El Buen Patrón at Palace cinema, Brussels

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

September 2022 - Stakeholders dialogue on access to content

October 2022 - Hearing in CULT committee about the implementation of the Audiovisual Media and Services Directive

02-06-2022

UNIC policy update 13/05/2022

Ukraine

Speech by President von der Leyen at the EP Plenary on the social and economic consequences for the EU of the Russian war in Ukraine – reinforcing the EU's capacity to act

Next week, we will mark Europe Day. The 72nd birthday of our Union. This Europe Day will be all about the Union of the future – how we make it stronger, more resilient, closer to its people. But the answer to all of these questions, we cannot give alone. The answer is also given in Ukraine. 
European Commission – 4 May

Recovery and Resilience Facility

CULT Committee in European Parliament calls for more support to European culture and creative sector
The European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education has voted on its Opinion on the implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
FIAD – 29 April

Cannes

Conference in Cannes: Constant Gardeners: The Realities of Today's Film Sector in Europe - 23 May
The last two years will clearly be remembered as one of the most challenging periods in the history of the film sector, including in Europe. Everyone’s focus is now on how best to adapt to the “new normal” and how to sustain a holistic recovery for the entire value chain, to the benefit of European audiences and industry alike. 
FIAD – 5 May

Copyright enforcement

MUSO Discover Q1 2022 Digital Piracy Data Insights
MUSO’s Piracy by Industry dataset measures industry-level piracy demand for film, TV, music, software and publishing content across a wide range of piracy sites that include streaming, torrent, web download and stream ripping sites. This article highlights some of the trends and headline figures MUSO identified.

MUSO – April Report 2022

Events

22 May - Europa Cinemas conference (15.00 to 18.00)

23 May - European Audiovisual Observatory Film Focus session in Cannes

20 May - European Film Forum in Cannes - Building Europe’s cultural autonomy: Media Invest and the way forward in the AV sector (more details available here)

21 May - European Audiovisual Observatory conference “Circulation of films – is there enough availability?”

23 May- Constant Gardeners: the realities of today's film sector in Europe Cannes conference

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

14 June - UNIC & FIAD Screening - El Buen Patrón at Palace cinema, Brussels

15-05-2022

UNIC policy update 21/04/2022

EU strategy for the cultural and creative industries

12/04: Council adopts conclusions on the cultural and creative industries - UNIC

On 4 April, EU Member States adopted conclusions on a European strategy for the cultural and creative industries ecosystem, sending a signal about their ambitions and strategy for the cultural and creative sectors.

Geoblocking

15/04: Film and audiovisual sector welcomes new European Audiovisual Observatory study - UNIC

Film and audiovisual sector welcomes new European Audiovisual Observatory study paving the way towards a successful end of the Stakeholder Dialogue. Observatory findings confirm wide availability and circulation of non-national European films and AV productions.

12/04: Europeans have access to over 8,500 European films on VOD in their country on average - EAO

The European Audiovisual Observatory, part of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg has just published a new trailblazing report on the circulation of European films on VOD and in cinemas.

Digital Services Act & Digital Markets Act

13/04: Event announcement - The DSM Directive 3 years on: The Polish challenge to Article 17 and the national transposition maze - The IPKat

Three years after its adoption, the discussion of and around the Directive on copyright and related rights in the Digital SingleMarket 2019/790 (‘DSM Directive’) is anything but exhausted.

Events

22 April - Final Trilogue on the Digital Services Act

25-28 April -  CinemaCon 2022

19 May - European Audiovisual Observatory Film Focus session in Cannes

20 May - EFF in Cannes

21 May - European Audiovisual Observatory conference “Circulation of films – is there enough availability?”

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

14 June - UNIC & FIAD Screening - El Buen Patrón at Palace cinema, Brussel

21-04-2022

UNIC policy update 04/04/2022

Ukraine

16/03: CULT Exchange of Views on "The Russian War Against Ukraine" – European Parliament

Given the dramatic situation in Ukraine, the CULT Committee put a thematic focus on Russia’s aggression in its forthcoming committee meeting on 15 March 2022.

Cultural and creative industries and AI

16/03: Commission publishes two studies to map the challenges and opportunities for cultural and creative sectors in the digital decade – European Commission

Both studies aim to provide creative entrepreneurs, academics, national policy makers as well as EU policy makers with concrete ideas as well as avenues for further exploration.

Digital Services Act

21/03: IMCO Digital Services Act – European Parliament

The third trilogue on the DSA took place on 15.03.2022 in the Council's premises. The EP Rapporteur, Christel Schaldemose (S&D), said: the DSA has been drafted and now negotiated in the context of two major crises: the global pandemic and now the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The crises have brought the shortcomings of the current framework to light, but they have also made it clear that we must not forget who we are and defend our values in the DSA.

Digital Markets Act

25/03: Digital Markets Act (DMA): agreement between the Council and the European Parliament – European Council

The Council and the Parliament today reached a provisional political agreement on the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to make the digital sector fairer and more competitive. Final technical work will make it possible to finalise the text in the coming days.

25/03: Digital Markets Act: Commission welcomes political agreement on rules to ensure fair and open digital markets – European Commission

The Commission welcomes the swift political agreement reached yesterday between the European Parliament and EU Member States on the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The regulation, agreed in slightly more than a year after it was proposed, is among the first initiatives of its kind to comprehensively regulate the gatekeeper power of the largest digital companies.

NextGenerationEU

22/03: NextGenerationEU: European Commission completes the second successful bond issuance in 2022 – European Commission

The European Commission has today raised a further €10 billion in NextGenerationEU funds through its second bond syndication of 2022. The 10-year bond, due on 06 July 2032, brings the total financing raised under the programme to €91 billion. This placement will continue to support Europe's economic recovery under the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the other EU-budget programmes funded through NextGenerationEU.

European Council

25/03: Charles Michel re-elected president of the European Council – Council of the EU

The European Council re-elected Charles Michel as its president for a second term of two and a half years, from 1 June 2022 to 30 November 2024. Charles Michel was also re-appointed as President of the Euro Summit for the same period.

Events:

April 2022 - Adoption of Council conclusions on building a European Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries

5-6 April - UKCA Conference

25-28 April - CinemaCon 2022

20-23 April - UNIC programme in Cannes, more details to follow

20 May - EFF in Cannes - location and topic tbc

21 May - European Audiovisual Observatory conference “Circulation of films – is there enough availability?”

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

04-04-2022

UNIC policy update 11/03/2022

Ukraine

01/03:  UNIC stands in solidarity with Ukrainian exhibitors and the Ukrainian people following Russian invasion - UNIC

UNIC, the trade body representing the interests of cinema operators across 39 European territories, has today issued a statement expressing its solidarity not just with Ukrainian exhibitors but also the Ukrainian people as they look to repel the attack on their country by Russian forces.

28/03: Press release: Audiovisual authors’ organisations stand in solidarity with Ukraine - SAA

The Society of Audiovisual Authors and its collective management organisation members stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and their creative community following the invasion of the country, and with all forms of opposition to the war.

01/03: Unequivocal Solidarity with Ukraine - European Film Academy

The Academy strongly condemns the war started by Russia – Ukraine’s sovereignty and territory must be respected. Putin’s actions are atrocious and totally unacceptable, and we strongly condemn them.

04/03: Commission suspends cooperation with Russia on research and innovation – European Commission

Following the Russian invasion against Ukraine and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, the Commission has decided to suspend the cooperation with Russian entities in research, science and innovation.

06/03: KVIFF 2022: Karlovy Vary Film Festival Refuses Call to Ban All Russian Films – Film New Europe

The organisers of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival have announced that they will not boycott all Russian films at this year’s edition (1-9 July 2022) but will not screen Russian films or accept anyone who is associated with the Russian government or supports military aggression.

07/03: Netflix suspends service in Russia - BroadBand TV 

Netflix has decided to suspend its service in Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

NextGenerationEU

01/03: NextGenerationEU: First annual report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility finds implementation is well underway – European Commission

The European Commission has today adopted its first annual report on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the centrepiece of NextGenerationEU. The RRF is providing up to €723.8 billion (in current prices) of grants and loans to Member States to support transformative investments and reforms that will enable the EU to emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital Services Act

03/03: Digital Services Act: MEPs are ready to defend tougher regulations – The Parliament Magazine

The European Parliament and Council must find agreement over points of contention in the DSA. Here is a breakdown of what's at stake and what's next.

Remuneration

01/03: US companies dominating the EU market - less rights for authors? - SAA

During the pandemic lockdowns and quarantines, few paid attention to the consequences of the domination of the streaming and on-demand services by US interests: while the audience gets more content, European authors are being stripped of their right to royalties.

French Presidency of the EU

04/03: Informal meeting of ministers responsible for culture, media and the audiovisual sector – Council of the EU

This informal meeting of ministers responsible for culture, media and the audiovisual sector will address two separate topics. The first is the press and media sector and the second is cultural heritage. What are the challenges faced by these sectors? Can solutions be offered at European level?

Events:

11 March - Presentation of a pan European report on the future of the industry by the European Co-Production Forum, Brussels

15 March - Trilogue on the Digital Services Act

15 March - DG Competition deadline about Amazon MGM Merger

22-24 March - Dialogues of Lille, Series Mania Festival, with Vice President Vestager

28-29 March - UNIC Cinema Days 2022

March/April 2022 - Adoption of Council conclusions on building a European Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries

5-6 April - UKCA Conference

25-28 April - CinemaCon 2022

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

11-03-2022

UNIC policy update 18/02/2022

NextGenerationEU

08/02: NextGenerationEU: European Commission raises an additional €5 billion in support for Europe's recovery – European Commission

In its first bond syndication of 2022, the European Commission has today raised a further €5 billion in NextGenerationEU funds on behalf of the EU in yet another successful deal.

Digital Services Act

09/02: Digital Services Act: Know Your Business Customer obligations must apply to intermediary services – UNIC

This letter focuses on the “Know Your Business Customer” (KYBC) obligations of the proposal.

Collective Rights Management

02/02: The Collective Rights Management Directive: a positive assessment of the action of CMOs - Society of Audiovisual Authors

5-years after the transposition deadline, the European Commission has concluded that the application of the Collective Rights Management Directive has had a positive effect on rightsholders and the licensing market. Therefore, there is no need for a review, said the Commission.

EU funding

03/02 : Creative Europe: Commission launches first calls for proposals to support audiovisual industry – European Commission

The Commission has published the first three calls for proposals opened under the framework of the Creative Europe MEDIA 2022, a programme with a total of €226 million of EU funding available this year. It aims at supporting the recovery of the audiovisual industry and strengthening its competitiveness both within Europe and worldwide.

Berlinale

09/02: MEDIA will be present at the Berlinale: EFF on sustainability, industry events and films – European Commission

Creative Europe MEDIA will once again be present at the festival with a virtual stand, a European Film Forum, side events and some MEDIA-supported films in competition.

Events

10 March - European Audiovisual Observatory advisory committee meeting

11 March - Presentation of a pan European report on the future of the industry by the European Co-Production Forum, Brussels

28/29 March - UNIC Cinema Days 2022

April 2022 - Adoption of French conclusions on building a European Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries

25-28 April - CinemaCon 2022

17-28 May - Cannes Film Festival 2022

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

18-02-2022

UNIC policy update 02/02/2022

Digital Services Act

Film/AV sector DSA Trilogue statement – UNIC

The undersigned organisations representing the creative and business communities of the film and audiovisual sector in Europe regret that the European Parliament plenary vote on the Digital Services Act failed to achieve the stated goal of making internet intermediaries more accountable and creating a safer, better-functioning online environment for everyone.

Digital Services Act: regulating platforms for a safer online space for users – European Parliament

MEPs agreed a draft set of measures to tackle illegal content, to ensure platforms are held accountable for their algorithms, and improve content moderation.

Christel Schaldemose tells the Parliament Magazine, in an exclusive interview, about her hopes for the EU’s groundbreaking Digital Services Act – The Parliament Magazine

European Parliament’s lead rapporteur says EU policymakers have an obligation to ‘take back control’ of the internet.

Competition

Antitrust: Commission publishes final report on consumer Internet of Things sector inquiry – European Commission

The European Commission has published today the findings of its competition sector inquiry into the consumer Internet of Things (IoT). The final report and its accompanying staff working document identify potential competition concerns in the rapidly growing markets for IoT related products and services in the European Union.

French Presidency of the Council

French Presidency briefs the European Parliament’s committees on its priorities – European Parliament

Ministers outlined the priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU to parliamentary committees, in a series of meetings.

Events:

3 February - Second Trilogue Digital Markets Act

10-20 February - Berlinale

14 February - European Film Forum at Berlinale on sustainability in the cinema industry

28/29 March - UNIC Cinema Days 2022

25-28 April - CinemaCon 2022

20-23 June - CineEurope 2022

02-02-2022

UNIC policy update 20/01/2022

Digital Services Act

13/01: Digital Services Act: Time to end the Digital ‘Wild West’ says Arba Kokalari – The Parliament

EPP Group Shadow Rapporteur says MEPs must seize the opportunity of upcoming DSA plenary vote to create a more innovative, competitive and safer European digital market.

Creative Europe

13/01: Creative Europe: Increased budget in 2022 to support cultural and creative sectors – European Commission

The Commission has adopted the 2022 work programme of Creative Europe, which will be followed by the launch of the relevant calls for proposals. With a budget of around €385 million, nearly €100 million more compared to 2021, Creative Europe strengthens its support to creative and cultural partners taking due account of the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and the growing global competition.

Audiovisual Media Services Directive

10/01: Updated tracking table by the European Audiovisual Observatory - EAO 

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) was last revised in autumn 2018. The European Commission set the deadline for transposition into national legislation as being the 19 September 2020. The following table shows the actual state of play in each EU Member State.

Intellectual Property Rights

10/01: €47 million fund to protect intellectual property of EU SMEs in their COVID-19 recovery and green and digital transitions – European Commission

The Commission and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) launched the new EU SME Fund, which offers vouchers for EU-based SMEs to help them protect their intellectual property (IP) rights.

French Presidency of the EU

07/01: Statement by President von der Leyen at the joint press conference with President Macron on the presentation of the programme of activities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU - European Commission

01/01: Programme of the Presidency -  UEFRANCE22

France has published its programme for the next six months. The programme details the priorities and guidelines for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January to 30 June 2022.

European Parliament

03/01: Coming up in 2022: digital issues, green transition, health - European Parliament

Digital issues, public health and the road to climate neutrality are among the main topics on Parliament's agenda for 2022. Find out what to expect.

Recent studies

EUIPO - Online Copyright Infringement in the European Union: Music, Films and TV (2017-2020), Trends and Drivers - December 2021

EAO -  Animation films and TV series in Europe - December 2021

Events

January/February: Fourth meeting of the European Commission Stakeholders dialogue on access to and availability of audiovisual content across the EU (final date tbc)

25 January: Presidency conference on audiovisual in Angers  ““Independence in Support of Creativity” - Audiovisual and Cinema Conference” – more information here

26-27 January: JURI committee meeting

3-4 February: UNIC Cinema Days

14 February: European Commission Film Forum on sustainability and AV - more details to follow

20-01-2022

UNIC policy update 17/12/2021

Copyright Directive

02/12: December infringements package: the Commission calls on Romania to comply with EU copyright rules - European Commission

The Commission has decided to send an additional letter of formal notice to Romania on the grounds that their national rules on the management of rights in musical works run contrary to EU copyright rules.

Creative Europe MEDIA

06/12: 12 MEDIA-supported films gather 25 nominations at the European Film Awards - European Commission

The 34th edition of the European Film Awards (EFA), which celebrate and reward the greatest achievements in Europen cinema, took place on 11 December as a hybrid event.

Council Conclusions

30/11: Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, 29-30 November 2021 - Council of the European Union 

Proposed actions include encouraging the greater availability of original content in different language versions, promoting efficient marketing tools and film audience strategies, improving and facilitating the discoverability of creative content online in all EU languages and encouraging an increase in the volume of European audiovisual works in on-demand catalogues.

EUIPO studies

10/12: EUIPO study shows drop in online piracy for TV programmes, music and film - European Commission

Online piracy has posed a significant problem in the European Union. Recognising this, the European Commission has made fighting this type of copyright infringement one of its priorities in the IP Action Plan.

10/12: Joint EUIPO and European Commission report details enforcement results of IPRs - European Commission 

The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have released an annual report on ‘EU enforcement of intellectual property rights: Results at the EU border and in the EU internal market 2020’.

LUX Audience Award

12/12: Flee, Great Freedom and Quo Vadis Aida? will compete for LUX Audience Award - European Parliament

During a ceremony on Saturday, the three films shortlisted for the 2022 LUX Audience Award were revealed at the European Film Awards in Berlin.

Recent Studies

EUIPO - Online Copyright Infringement in the European Union: Music, Films and TV (2017-2020), Trends and Drivers - December 2021

EAO -  Animation films and TV series in Europe - December 2021

MUSO - Monthly Film Data Insights - November 2021

Events

1 January 2022: French EU Presidency of the EU

10 January: JURI committee meeting

11 January: UNIC screening

13 January: CULT committee meeting

25/26 January: Presidency conference on AV in Angers

26-27 January: JURI committee meeting

20-12-2021

UNIC policy update 02/12/2021

Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act

25/11: Council agrees position on new digital rules - Council of the European Union 

On 25 November 2021, the Council agreed on a general approach for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), two key legislative files to help create a safe and open digital space for EU citizens and businesses.

Slovenian Presidency

29/11: Ministers Simoniti and Kustec at the meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council - Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union

EU ministers responsible for culture, led by Minister Simoniti, are due to approve conclusions on high-quality architecture and the New European Bauhaus, and on European audiovisual and media content. 

Audiovisual Media Services Directive

25/11: Revised AVMSD Tracking Table - AVMSD has been transposed in the Netherlands - EAO

The table presents a purely informative overview of the process of implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive 2018/1808 into the national legal systems of the 27-EU member states and in the UK. In the case of Belgium, the Flemish, French and German speaking communities were represented separately.

Intellectual property rights

16/11: European Parliament outlines necessary steps in IP reform efforts - European Commission

The European Parliament has adopted with an overwhelming majority a report on the European Commission's "EU Intellectual Property Action Plan". This presents an important step forward in addressing weaknesses in the current intellectual property (IP) system.

Events

1 and 2 December: CULT committee meeting

1 and 2 December: JURI committee meeting

8 December: GESAC conference - Rebuilding Europe with Culture

9 December: IMCO committee meeting + vote on the Digital Services Act report

9 December: JURI committee meeting

10 December: Third European Commission Stakeholders dialogue on access to and availability of audiovisual content across the EU

1 January 2022: French EU Presidency of the EU

25/26 January 2022: Presidency conference on AV in Angers

02-12-2021

UNIC policy update 18/11/2021

Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act

08/11: Frances Haugen to MEPs: EU digital rules can be a game changer for the world - European Parliament 

The EU’s future Digital Services Act can set the global standards in transparency, oversight and enforcement, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told MEPs.

Audiovisual Media Services Directive

04/11: Understanding the AVMSD and its new implications for national media law in Europe - European Audiovisual Observatory

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) is one of the keystones of media law in the European Union. It was thoroughly revised and extended in autumn 2018. The European Commission set the deadline for transposition into national legislation as being the 19 September 2020 but the process is still ongoing in a certain number of countries.

Copyright enforcement

12/11: Two-year sentence handed down to eBay fraudster - FACT

Westminster City Council’s Trading Standards team, working in partnership with FACT, have secured a prosecution against an eBay user who was selling internet protocol television (IPTV) devices online. IPTV devices enable users to access broadcasts, such as sporting events and films, which would otherwise require a paid subscription.

Intellectual property rights

11/11: Intellectual property rights: strong protection needed for EU social and economic recovery - European Parliament

While intellectual property (IP) registrations are on the rise, the EU patent systems remain fragmented and gaps in enforcement still need to be addressed, according to MEPs.

12/11: European Commission and European Union Intellectual Property Office commit to closer collaboration on IP for effective exploitation of research results - European Commission

Last week, the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) signed a letter of intent for co-operation on intellectual property (IP) management.

Events

18 November: JURI committee meeting

22 November:  Second European Commission Stakeholders dialogue on access to and availability of audiovisual content across the EU

25 November: Council common approach on the Digital Services Act

30 November: Adoption of Council conclusions on increasing the availability and competitiveness of European audiovisual and media content

1 December: IMCO committee meeting

1 and 2 December: CULT committee meeting

1 and 2 December: JURI committee meeting

8 December: GESAC conference - Rebuilding Europe with Culture

9 December: IMCO committee meeting + vote on the Digital Services Act report

9 December: JURI committee meeting

10 December: Third European Commission Stakeholders dialogue on access to and availability of audiovisual content across the EU

1 January 2022: French EU Presidency of the EU

25/26 January 2022: Presidency conference on AV in Angers

18-11-2021

UNIC policy update 03/11/2021

Geoblocking

22/10: Media and Audiovisual Action Plan: Commission prepares dialogue on circulation of films, TV series and audiovisual content - European Commission

On 22 October, the Commission has held a high-level roundtable aimed at setting the ambition for the upcoming stakeholder dialogue on improving the access to and availability of audiovisual content across EU Member States.

Media and Audiovisual Action Plan

20/10: European media needs support to recover from pandemic and face future challenges - European Parliament

Parliament voices concerns about attacks on EU media in some member states and calls for urgent action to help news media be fit for the “Digital Decade”.

2022 Commission Work Programme

19/10: 2022 Commission Work Programme: Making Europe stronger together - European Commission

The Commission adopted its 2022 Work Programme, setting out the next steps in its bold and transformative agenda towards a post-COVID-19 Europe that is greener, fairer, more digital and more resilient.

European Council

22/10: European Council conclusions, 21-22 October 2021 - European Council

The attachment presents the conclusions adopted by the Council during the meeting held on 21 and 22 October 2021.

Recent studies:

EAO - Mapping of national rules applicable to video-sharing platforms: Illegal and harmful content online - October 2021

EAO - Unravelling the Digital Services Act package - October 2021

Slovenian Film Centre - Study on accessibility and competitiveness of European audiovisual works from small language environments - October 2021

EUIPO Observatory - 10 years of the EU Intellectual Property Network - October 2021

MUSO - Monthly Film Data Insights - September 2021

Events:

8 November: IMCO committee hearing - Facebook whistleblower Francis Haugen testament

9 November: First European Commission Stakeholders dialogue on access to and availability of audiovisual content across the EU

15 November: CULT committee meeting

15 November: JURI committee meeting

18 November: JURI committee meeting

25 November: Council common approach on the Digital Services Act

30 November: Adoption of Council conclusions on increasing the availability and competitiveness of European audiovisual and media content

1 December: IMCO committee meeting

1 and 2 December: CULT committee meeting

1 and 2 December: JURI committee meeting

9 December: IMCO committee meeting + vote on the Digital Services Act report 

9 December: JURI committee meeting

1 January 2022: French EU Presidency of the EU 

25/26 January 2022: Presidency conference on AV in Angers

03-11-2021