Brussels, 24 May 2013

Eurocinema, Europa Cinemas, Europa Distribution, Europa International, the European Producers Club, FERA, FIAD, SAA and UNIC congratulate the European Parliament for voting in favour of the resolution calling for the exclusion of cultural and audiovisual services, including online services, from the negotiating mandate of the free trade agreement between the US and the EU. This resolution was adopted with a large majority which demonstrates the strong support for the preservation of the cultural exception.

This vote is historic and we welcome its political impact. European cinema thanks the Members of the European Parliament for their understanding of the challenges at stake for culture and for their support to European filmmakers who expressed themselves in favour of such exclusion in a petition that has already been signed by nearly 5,500 professionals.

But we must keep going. Eurocinema, Europa Cinemas, Europa Distribution, Europa International, the European Producers Club, FERA, FIAD, SAA and UNIC now call on the European Commission to take into account this vote of the European citizens’ representatives and on the Member States to support the exclusion of cultural and audiovisual services by 14 June, when Member States will adopt the negotiating mandate to be given to the Commission.