Ambassador André Haspels, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands at the Council of Europe, has signed today in Strasbourg, in the presence of the Deputy Secretary General, Tanja Gonggrijp, the Council of Europe Convention on the Co-production of Audiovisual Works in the form of Series.

The convention, also called the Lille Convention, is one of the “youngest” Council of Europe’s treaties; it was opened to signature in March 2026 and since then has been signed by 13 states, including the Netherlands. The treaty needs three ratifications, with at least two from Council of Europe member states, to enter into force.

It is the first international legal framework dedicated to the independent co-production of television and streaming series. The treaty establishes clear rules to strengthen cross-border cooperation, support independent producers, and bring greater transparency and predictability to an increasingly complex market of series production in Europe.

Today’s signature by the Netherlands is a contribution to the work the Council of Europe does to protect and promote Europe’s rich and diverse culture through advancing high-quality storytelling, Deputy Secretary General noted after the ceremony.

 Q&A on the Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series