Introduction to Agoraeu
The European Commission has proposed a new program called Agoraeu, which is set to replace the Creative Europe program. This proposal has raised concerns among independent European producers, who have given a strong joint explanation to express their worries about the future of independent audiovisual creation in Europe.
Concerns About Agoraeu
The explanation, signed by 24 influential independent European producer groups, describes the proposals published by Agoraeu as a "risky turning point for the future of independent audiovisual creation in Europe". The signatories include the European Producers Club (EPC), Eurocinema, CEPI, Italy’s APA, Germany’s Prog, France L’Arp, and SFP in Switzerland. The proposed Agoraeu program has a budget of €8.6 billion (USD 10 billion) for over seven years, but the scope of financing for the proposed Media+ Strand has increased to support news media as well as film and audiovisual content.
Specific Concerns
The European producer groups have described four specific concerns about the Agoraeu proposal. Firstly, they emphasize weakened support for independent productions and describe the removal of the independence criterion as alarming. The proposal’s lack of direction towards funding independent productions is a major concern, as it may lead to subsidiaries of radio organizers and platforms, including non-European ones, receiving more funding.
Unclear Budget and Priorities
The groups also marked "unclear budget and the shift in priorities" in the Agoraeu proposal. The budget for supporting European audiovisual creation and circulation is not specific nor guaranteed, and it is merged with the funding for news media. This creates uncertainty and undermines predictability for the sector. The objectives linked to news and the fight against disinformation blur the mission of Media+, to the detriment of clarity and its impact on the audiovisual sector.
Open Doors for Non-European Companies
Thirdly, the producer groups said that Agoraeu suggests opening doors for non-European companies. The permission to allow units of third-country companies to benefit from financing undermines cultural sovereignty and exposes the sector to further market concentration in favor of global giants.
Complex and Opaque Governance
Fourthly, the explanation expressed concern about "complex and opaque governance" within the Agoraeu proposal. The lack of mechanisms for consulting member states and stakeholders, as well as the centralization of decisions within the hands of the European Commission, is a major concern. The lack of details on the various support systems limits the transparency and accountability obligation of the future program implementation.
Proposed Solutions
The producer groups have presented four of their own suggestions to "ensure that Media+ meets its ambitions and promotes the cultural diversity of Europe". These include:
- Installing the criteria of independence as a mandatory condition for support
- Ensuring strictly separate funds for the audiovisual sector from the financing of news and the fight against disinformation
- Limiting access to financial resources for companies from non-associated non-European countries
- Taking into account the attachments again to specify various support goals and offer a foreseeable manner and sectoral stability
Conclusion
The proposed Agoraeu program has raised significant concerns among independent European producers, who fear that it may undermine the future of independent audiovisual creation in Europe. The producer groups’ suggestions aim to ensure that Media+ meets its ambitions and promotes the cultural diversity of Europe. It remains to be seen how the European Commission will address these concerns and whether the Agoraeu program will be modified to support the independent audiovisual sector.
