Sustainability Strategy
Eurimages’ commitment to consider environmental issues in its activities was formalised in September 2020 with the adoption of Resolution CM/Res(2020)8 by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. This document states in its articles 1.1, 2.3 and 8.1 that: Environmental impact should, whenever possible, be considered and reduced both when taking measures and implementing programme activities and in the Fund’s functioning.
In the framework of this strategy, “sustainability” is understood to be a focus on the environmental impact of the Fund’s activities, its functioning and on action towards climate neutrality. Gender equality and diversity issues are dealt with by a dedicated Eurimages Study Group while other areas of activity listed in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals go beyond the mandate of the Fund.
Eurimages acknowledges its accountability towards future generations regarding sustainable development, bearing in mind the undeniable environmental impact of international co-productions.
Eurimages also trusts that international cooperation is a key element to answer the challenges of climate change, hence engaging its responsibility as a platform to encourage the greening of the film industry in its member States.
Eurimages Board of Management established a Sustainability Study Group in March 2021 to develop a strategy and action plan to help the Fund meet these challenges while continuing to support quality projects of international reach.
Background
Several international legal standards developed by the Council of Europe – notably the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Social Charter, and the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats among others – have been successfully invoked to help make progress on environmental issues. With these, the Council of Europe has underlined the undeniable link between human rights and a sustainable environment.
Eurimages' missions are built into the broader objectives of the Council of Europe, making it even more necessary to take the challenges of sustainable development into account. Many public and private organisations have already been active in the field and concrete measures are already in place. Eurimages would like to draw from these experiences. The European Audiovisual Observatory‘s conference “Boosting sustainable film through international collaboration” which took place in June 2021 laid the foundations for the Fund’s reflection and coincided with the launch of the Eurimages Sustainability Study Group. Also, Eurimages intends to place its work on a strategy and an action plan within the framework of the Structured Dialogue “Towards a climate-neutral audiovisual sector” led by the European Commission - DG CONNECT.
Strategic objectives
Three strategic objectives addressing three different target groups were identified by the Sustainability Study Group.
Objective #1 - Encourage a sustainable film industry
Eurimages will encourage the transition to a sustainable film industry with a particular focus on international co-production.
In order to implement this objective, Eurimages will specify when a film project is considered sustainable i.e., what the Fund wants to measure, and which target is set. The Sustainability Study group will oversee for the Fund the development of appropriate criteria for sustainable co-productions.
Eurimages will at first focus on measures to be implemented within the framework of its co-production support programme. In doing so, the Fund will take into account the absence of existing and widely accepted standards at this stage and the limited resources to manage green issues at both the producers’ and Eurimages’ level.
In a second stage, such sustainability measures will be extended and adapted to the other programmes of the Fund.
The Sustainability Study Group and the Eurimages Secretariat will ensure coordination with other partners in the film industry to avoid duplication of existing initiatives. Eurimages will also ensure it bases its decisions on the evaluation of existing measures.
Eurimages' action will be included in the framework of the structured dialogue launched by the European Union aiming more specifically at establishing a common label and common measurement (calculator) systems in its member States.
Eurimages will take into consideration geographical specificities of its member States when adopting sustainability measures.
In implementing these measures, Eurimages shall do its utmost:
- to maintain a high standard of quality in the projects supported
- to keep administrative processes at an acceptable level for all.
Objective #2 - Ensure a sustainable functioning of the Fund
Eurimages will ensure that in terms of respect for the environment the functioning of the Fund is in line with widely accepted modern administrative standards and good practices*.
In doing so, it will ensure coherence in the functioning of the Fund with its own policy by swift implementation of sustainability measures.
However, Objective #2 will require coordination with the Council of Europe’s central administration and conformity to its rules.
The Sustainability Study Group and the Eurimages Secretariat will assess the green impact of the Fund’s functioning and will study means of improvement (for instance for travel, printing and digital communication?).
Build on some of the consequences of Covid-19 crisis: homeworking / virtual meetings / online film events.
However, the Fund acknowledges the importance of maintaining a direct “non-virtual” contact with film professionals to carry out its missions in physical events.
* e.g., JRC Report “Best Environment Management Practice for the Public Administration Sector”
Objective #3 - Foster cooperation between its member States and implementation or improvement of sustainability measures
Eurimages will encourage the national authorities of the Fund’s member States to act in favour of a sustainable film industry and to share their experience, best practices, and knowledge with each other. Awareness raising is one of the traditional missions of the Council of Europe and was (and still is), for instance, a key activity within the Eurimages Gender Equality Policy.
Eurimages will participate in forums to share experience, best practices, and knowledge, or in activities intended to set common standards.
Eurimages will respond on a case-by-case basis to member States’ requests whenever the Fund’s involvement is relevant (awareness raising, support to training events…) in cooperation with the appropriate partners or stakeholders. The Fund will act in a reactive, not proactive fashion.
Depending on the desire of the member States, soft law (for instance a Council of Europe Recommendation) could set a common framework for a sustainable film industry.
CONTACTS
