On March 26, as part of the Series Mania Forum in Lille, the official ceremony marking the opening for signature of the new Council of Europe Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series took place, representing a historic milestone for the European and international audiovisual industry. The event was chaired by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, in the presence of institutional representatives and industry professionals. Representing Italy was the Undersecretary for Culture, Lucia Borgonzoni.
The Convention represents the first international legal framework specifically dedicated to the independent co-production of series for television and streaming platforms. Its aim is to strengthen cultural cooperation between countries, support independent producers, and enhance transparency in an increasingly competitive and global ecosystem.
Berset highlighted the central role of series as a contemporary cultural form capable of crossing borders and fostering dialogue between diverse perspectives. The initiative is addressed to the 46 member states of the Council of Europe, but remains open to non-European countries, with the ambition of expanding international collaboration in the audiovisual sector.
The signing of the Convention is part of the Lille Dialogues programme, the summit bringing together policymakers and industry leaders to address the sector’s key strategic challenges. As noted by Laurence Herszberg, the agreement represents a decisive step towards increasing content diversity and strengthening the circulation of European series in global markets.
