Cineregio - L'abandon du réinvestissement met en danger les fonds régionaux

Cineregio a exprimé dans son assemblé générale du 20 mai son inquiétude sur le projet de règlement de la Commission Européenne sur le soutien au cinéma (Cinéma Communication) ainsi que sur l'intention de la Commission d'inclure le secteur audiovisuel dans les négociations du traité de libre échange entre l'UE et l'USA. Les deux mesures risquent de mettre en danger l'obligation de réinvestissement, ce qui fragiliserait les systèmes d'aide régionaux.
 

No more territorialisation? No more Regional Funds!

Cineregio has expressed surprise and concern about the content of the new draft Cinema Communication and it is frustrated by the lack of action from most Member States, which risks a serious loss of influence over future film policies at European, national and regional level.
Cineregio’s 8th General Assembly during the 66th Festival de Cannes discussed two topics, which challenge the right of European regions to contribute to Europe’s cultural diversity.
Firstly, the majority of Member States on 14th June are planning to accept the European Commission’s decision to include the audiovisual sector in the EU-US free trade agreement negotiations. This represents a total shift in EU policy! For regional film funds, this change threatens not just our commitment to film but to the wider development of a dynamic, forward-thinking and audience-centred audiovisual sector. The Commission’s move will put the interests of US-based globalised multinationals before those of a culturally-diverse Europe and of European citizens.
Secondly, the Commission’s new draft Cinema Communication released on 30th April has left us surprised and concerned. There has been a significant and worrying shift from the previous drafts and dialogue of the last 18 months, particularly on the question of
territorialisation.
Cineregio has actively and constructively engaged in the discussions about the Communication and welcomes the Commission’s recognition of the regional dimension of film culture and its explicit reference to regional culture. And yet the draft actually threatens what it says it supports.
The draft text makes it difficult for regional agencies to justify the use of taxpayer’s money to support cultural output, because it would take away the right to ensure that aid granted to production companies is used to develop and nurture the audiovisual sector in the region granting the aid.
For Cineregio, the members of Cine-Regio and the citizens in our regions, one of the great strengths of Europe is its investment in films of high artistic value; in the exploration and nurturing of new talent; and in cinematic innovation.
Many European co-productions – including many of the European films selected for Cannes Film Festival – exist only because of the great diversity of support schemes. It is important to understand that without territorialisation those schemes would be lost. In short, territorialisation is an essential to cultural output. The way European regions chose to implement their cultural policy should be decided by themselves – as guaranteed in the Treaty by article 107.3 (d) TFEU.
24.5.2013