Council of Europe Convention on Series Co-production Signed

Detected March 27th, 2026

Summary

Nine countries have signed the new Council of Europe Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series. This treaty aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation, support independent producers, and promote diverse European storytelling in the global audiovisual market. The convention will enter into force upon ratification by three member states.

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What changed

The Council of Europe has adopted a new Convention on the co-production of audiovisual works in the form of series, with nine countries signing it at the Series Mania forum. This marks the first international legal framework specifically for independent series co-productions, aiming to provide clear rules for financing, production, and distribution in a market increasingly dominated by non-European players and algorithm-driven economic models.

The convention seeks to bolster independent producers, enhance transparency, and ensure the visibility of diverse European storytelling against market concentration and disinformation. It requires three ratifications from Council of Europe member states to enter into force, signaling a strategic move to increase the resilience and global competitiveness of European audiovisual production. Compliance officers in the media and entertainment sector should monitor ratification progress and potential impacts on co-production agreements and market access.

What to do next

Monitor ratification progress by Council of Europe member states.
Review implications for existing and future cross-border series co-production agreements.

Source document (simplified)

Back Nine countries sign new Council of Europe Convention on series co-production at Series Mania

“This treaty will better establish the position of independent producers in a market dominated by non-European players” – Alain Berset

The new convention promotes cross-border co-productions for streaming and television

Today 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: 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 it 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.

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.

Resisting the dictates of algorithms

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.”

In his address to the Lille dialogues at Series Mania, the Secretary General highlighted how international recognition increasingly follows from robust co-production frameworks, notably those shaped by the Council of Europe Convention on cinematographic co-production. He pointed to the recent Oscar win for Sentimental Value by Joachim Trier as an example of how films developed within this framework, and supported in part by Eurimages, can achieve global acclaim. In this context, he underscored that the emerging Convention on series co-production is intended to foster similar conditions for high-quality series, enabling them to reach comparable levels of visibility and success.

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.”

Learn more about the Council of Europe’s work in the area of culture

The cultural support fund of the Council of Europe – Eurimages

Speech by the Secretary General