CEPI welcomes the proposed AgoraEU budget increase but calls for clear commitments to the independent audiovisual sector
- CEPI
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
Yesterday, the European Commission unveiled its proposals for the long-term EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034.
The Commission proposed a newly created AgoraEU Programme, introducing significant structural changes by merging the Creative Europe Programme with the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, creating a broader funding instrument encompassing culture, audiovisual media, journalism, and the promotion of democratic values and citizens’ rights.
CEPI, the European Audiovisual Production Association, regrets the dismantling of the current Creative Europe Programme and the fragmentation of its MEDIA strand into a wider structure, despite repeated and consistent calls from across the audiovisual industry to preserve it as a standalone programme.
We are concerned that this merger risks diluting the core objectives of Creative Europe and undermining the dedicated support needed for European audiovisual creation and distribution. Over the years, the MEDIA programme has played a crucial role in building a vibrant, competitive, and culturally diverse European film and audiovisual ecosystem. Merging it into a larger and more diffuse framework could significantly weaken the strategic focus on audiovisual content and reduce funding levels at a time when the sector faces increasing global competition and structural challenges.
The 2021–2027 Creative Europe Programme explicitly aimed to support the development of independent audiovisual works, recognising their essential role in fostering and promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, and creative freedom across Europe. Independent production is a cornerstone of the European audiovisual ecosystem, ensuring that a wide range of voices, stories, and perspectives reach audiences both within and beyond national borders.
CEPI calls on policymakers to ensure that the future programme maintains a clear and explicit commitment to supporting independent production, as a condition for safeguarding the vitality, resilience, and democratic value of the European audiovisual sector.
European audiovisual works not only reflect the richness of the continent’s cultures and languages but also represent a key element of Europe’s soft power on the global stage. Through film, series, and other creative content, Europe communicates its values, identity, and creativity to audiences around the world. It is essential that the EU continues to invest in this strategic asset, which enhances Europe’s influence abroad and reinforces its role as a global leader in cultural diplomacy.
CEPI welcomes the proposed increase in budget for the AgoraEU programme, set at almost €8.6 billion for the period 2028-2034, with €3.2 billion allocated to the Media+ strand. By comparison, the MEDIA sub-programme received €1.4 billion under the current Creative Europe framework for 2021–2027.
We stand ready to engage constructively with EU institutions to ensure that the future AgoraEU programme truly supports the growth and resilience of Europe’s independent audiovisual sector.
CEPI – the European Audiovisual Production Association – represents over 2,600 European independent film and TV producers across Europe through 19 national associations across 17 European countries.
