The European Commission has been holding discussions with the audiovisual sector to improve access to content and its availability across the European Union. This initiative, a key component of the plan for media and the audiovisual sector, aims to support the recovery and transformation of these industries. Following a high-level roundtable with Commissioner Breton, the Commission has organized a series of stakeholder meetings involving representatives from the audiovisual sector and consumer organizations.
The first session took place on November 9, 2021, during which the Commission outlined the goals and structure of the dialogue. A complete list of participants is available here. The dialogue is intended to identify specific industry solutions to increase the number and diversity of audiovisual works available online in each member state and to facilitate consumer access to content throughout the EU.
Represented in the dialogue meetings are various segments of the audiovisual sector, including authors, producers, distributors, broadcasters, television operators, independent and global VOD services, film funds, and consumer organizations. The discussions come as streaming services and content distribution continue to reshape the entertainment landscape.
Reports and presentations from the meetings are available: First meeting summary report (.pdf) and presentation (.pdf); Second meeting summary report (.pdf) and presentation (.pdf); Third meeting summary report (.pdf) and presentation (.pdf); Final meeting summary report (.pdf) and presentation (.pdf).
In June 2022, the Commission sent a letter to the dialogue participants requesting proposals for specific actions or a plan outlining steps they intend to take to improve the availability of audiovisual works online and cross-border access throughout the EU. This ongoing effort reflects the EU’s commitment to a thriving and accessible media environment.
