On 26 March, at the Series Mania Forum, nine countries have signed the new Council of Europe Convention on the Co-production of Audiovisual Works in the form of Series (CETS No. 230 – “Lille Convention”): France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland and Portugal.
The convention is the first international legal framework dedicated to the independent co-production of television and streaming series and marks a decisive step for the European and global audiovisual sector at a time of rapid transformation. As platforms reshape how stories are financed, produced and consumed, the treaty establishes clear, shared rules to strengthen cross-border cooperation, support independent producers, and bring greater transparency and predictability to an increasingly complex market.
This new legal instrument builds on the political momentum created by the Ministerial Declaration of 1 April 2022, in which Council of Europe member States called for stronger frameworks to support audiovisual co-production in the evolving digital environment. In parallel, it complements the Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions, which provides concrete financial support and practical testing grounds for collaboration between independent producers.
While the convention sets out the legal and cooperation architecture for co-productions, the Pilot Programme operates as an operational tool, enabling projects to be developed and financed in practice. The two instruments are therefore complementary: one establishes common rules and long-term stability, the other facilitates immediate implementation and industry uptake. At the same time, each can function independently, ensuring flexibility for participating countries and producers.
During the signing ceremony, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset thanked the signatories and urged remaining Council of Europe member countries to sign and ratify as well. The treaty needs three ratifications, with at least two from Council of Europe member states, to enter into force.
In addition to its technical role, the convention aims to safeguard the conditions for diverse, high-quality European storytelling in a crowded and volatile information space. It will help to ensure that authentic voices are heard, pluralistic narratives endure, and European creators are better equipped to withstand market concentration and the growing pressure of disinformation. In that regard, the Secretary General stressed: “This treaty will better establish the position of independent producers in a market dominated by non-European players, against a backdrop of economic models dictated by algorithms.”
Beyond such investment, the Secretary General stressed how the new convention represents a “strategic signal for the future resilience of European production – and a reminder that Europe is strongest when policymakers, creators, public service media and industry move together.”
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