Kanousheva said she was looking forward to “a very dynamic and constructive” Bulgarian Presidency of the Observatory in 2013. As one of the founder members of the Observatory, Bulgaria has always supported the Strasbourg-based information clearing house on the audiovisual industries in Europe. Kanousheva announced that a major Observatory media conference would be organized in Sofia this summer with the subject to be announced very soon. Wolfgang Closs, Executive Director of the Observatory stated that he felt “extremely optimistic” about the forthcoming year under the Bulgarian Presidency.

The European Audiovisual Observatory collects and distribute information on the audiovisual industry in Europe covering 39 countries. Its major activities are the publication of a Yearbook, newsletters and reports, the compilation and management of databases and the provision of information through the Observatory’s Internet site (http://www.obs.coe.int).

The European Audiovisual Observatory will be organizing its traditional Cannes conference during the Marché du Film in May. The subject will be announced in due course.