The Lille Convention
The Council of Europe Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series (CETS No. 230 – “Lille Convention”) was opened for signature on 26 March 2026 in Lille, France, during the Series Mania Festival, with nine countries signing at the outset: France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland and Portugal.
The Convention, whose final text had previously been adopted on 25 November 2025 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, is the first international legal framework specifically dedicated to the independent co-production of series for television and streaming platforms. It marks a significant step for the European and international audiovisual sector, strengthening cultural cooperation, supporting independent producers and enhancing transparency in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Crossborder cooperation coming soon
The new convention responds to the rapid growth of series as a dominant format in the global offer of audiovisual works. It introduces a set of co-production rules – which had previously only existed for cinema – that reflect the realities of serialised storytelling. By streamlining administrative procedures and clarifying obligations, the convention makes it easier for independent producers from different countries to work together. In doing so, it reinforces their role, enabling equitable participation in the ownership rights and revenues that sustain long-term viability.
By encouraging cultural cooperation across borders, the convention fosters a richer mix of languages, perspectives, and storytelling traditions in the serial works available to citizens in Europe and beyond and enhances their wider circulation.
Audiovisual art as a public good
Alongside its focus on the independent production sector, the new agreement fully acknowledges the essential role of public and private media service providers in creating and diffusing series and provides guidelines for balanced interaction where series are initiated by independent producers.
Once in force, the convention will establish a stable and internationally recognised foundation for high-quality audiovisual works in the form of series, supporting their role as public goods that nurture linguistic vitality, pluralism and democratic participation, in line with the Council of Europe’s mission to safeguard democracy.
The convention will open for signature by Council of Europe member countries in early 2026 and enter into force upon ratification by three countries.
Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series
1. When will the Convention enter into force?
On 26 November 2025, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted the Convention on the Co-Production of Audiovisual Works in the Form of Series. The Convention will be opened for signature in early 2026 at a special ceremony and then enters a phase of signature and ratification by member states of the Council of Europe or states party to the European Cultural Convention. It will enter into force once three states have ratified it. The timeline will depend on the pace of national procedures.
2. Why is this new Convention important?
Series have become a dominant format in the global offer of audiovisual works and are frequently made by partners from different countries. Building on the success of the framework for film co-production established by the Council of Europe’s Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, this new Convention introduces a distinct set of rules tailored for series, providing producers cooperating across borders with a framework adapted to multi-episode and multi-season production. This is the first international legal instrument dedicated specifically to independently initiated and co-produced television and online series.
3. How will this Convention support the audiovisual industry?
It facilitates cross-border cooperation, reduces administrative barriers, creates clearer rules for rights and revenue sharing, and improves access to public support schemes. The result is a more predictable and supportive environment for producing ambitious international series.
4. Who benefits from the Convention?
- Independent producers, who gain stronger protection of rights and more equitable participation in revenues.
- Broadcasters and streaming platforms, who will have access to larger, higher-quality international projects and reduced risks when they are also co-producing.
- National film and audiovisual agencies, which can rely on a harmonised framework for recognising official co-productions.
- Audiences, who will gain access to more diverse, culturally rich content.
5. Does the Convention replace the existing Film Co-Production Convention?
No. It complements it. The long-standing Cinematographic Co-Production Convention covers feature films. The new Convention is the first instrument created specifically for serial formats, reflecting the different financing, development, production, and distribution dynamics of series.
6. Will there be a link between the Convention and Eurimages or the Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions?
The Convention and Eurimages or the Pilot Programme will operate as complementary but separate instruments. All of them aim to encourage cross border cultural cooperation in the audiovisual sphere and to support independent producers, yet they differ in nature. The Convention provides a legal framework while Eurimages and the Pilot Programme provide financial support.
Eurimages will continue as the Council of Europe’s cultural fund for supporting co-production of cinematographic works, while the Pilot Programme continues supporting series co-productions. Both type of instruments aim to strengthen cross-border collaboration and support independent producers, but the Convention is a legal instrument whereas Eurimages and the Pilot Programme are financial instruments.
The Pilot Programme may in the future draw on the Convention as a reference for eligibility on accessing the fund. The Convention does not automatically modify the operating rules of the Pilot Programme nor of Eurimages.
The Eurimages Board of Management is nonetheless entrusted with the follow-up on the implementation of the Convention.
7. How does the Convention promote cultural diversity?
By encouraging partnerships between producers from different countries, the Convention supports the creation of series that showcase a wide variety of languages, perspectives, and cultural narratives. This strengthens the visibility of European stories in the global content landscape.
8. What impact will this have on independent producers?
Independent producers will see improved protection of their intellectual property, stronger negotiating positions, and better access to international financing. This helps ensure that the creative and financial value of their work remains with them over the long term.
9. Will this have an impact on viewers?
Indirectly, yes. By strengthening cooperation and funding for serial co-productions, the Convention allows higher-quality, more diverse series to reach both European and global audiences.
10. What initiatives helped test new approaches to series co-production ahead of the Convention?
In 2023 the Council of Europe introduced a Pilot Programme for Series Co-production, a funding initiative designed to support high-quality internationally co-produced series and to strengthen independent producers while encouraging new partnerships.
11. What practical changes can producers expect?
Concrete changes will improve planning certainty and lower the risks involved in international serial production. Series qualifying as official co-productions under the Convention will benefit from:
- clearer criteria for financial and creative contributions;
- more predictable rules for ownership, rights allocation, and revenue sharing;
- access to national financial support in participating countries;
- data transparency on the circulation of the work.
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Conseil de l'Europe
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