Public Consultations: Shape the Future of EU Cultural Support • CICAE

The European Commission is preparing its next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and has launched several public consultations to gather input from stakeholders. Here is how to participate until 6 May!

The European Commission is currently preparing the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will determine the structure and allocation of EU funding for the coming years (post 2027). This process includes reviewing and reforming EU financial structures with the aim to create a budget that aligns with the EU's strategic priorities. This will massively affect the cultural sector and programmes such as Creative Europe.

As part of this process, the Commission has launched several public consultations to gather input from stakeholders. These consultations take the form of targeted questionnaires that will directly influence future funding decisions.Two of these consultations are particularly important for the independent audiovisual sector. 

1. EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society

2. EU funding for the single market, and cooperation between national authorities.

Below you find the links to these consultations as well as our guidelines on how to best represent the interests of independent and arthouse cinemas in these questionnaires. 

The dealine to respond to these questionnaires is 6 May 2025.

Your input in this consultation is vital as the results will, among other things, significantly impact the future of the Creative Europe programme – a crucial funding source for many arthouse cinemas across Europe. By participating, you contribute to securing and strengthening support for the cultural and media sectors. To facilitate your participation, we have highlighted all questions relevant to Creative Europe and the sector in general in green in the documents linked below.

Please take this opportunity to help influence the framework that will shape cultural funding in Europe for years to come. Your informed perspective is essential to ensuring that the needs of arthouse cinemas are represented in funding decisions.

We have prepared a list of answers to the two most important questionnaires. For both of these questionnaires you can find below 1) the name of the consultation; 2) the link to the consultation and its introduction (to participate, please go on "Respond to the Questionnaire" and use / create your EU-Login); 3) a PDF with suggestions for answers that best represent interests of the sector; 4) a text to copy and paste at into the open question box the end of the questionnaire.

Suggested text for the end of the questionnaire: 1) Targeted funding for culture/media via Creative Europe–MEDIA as program centered on cinema; 2) Preserving independence of European audiovisual industry to ensure creative diversity and copyright protection in AI era; 3) Boosting competitiveness of independent European cinema industry in a market dominated by global players; 4) Preserving territoriality and geo-blocking to ensure audiovisual media supply chains; 5) Combating piracy of AV works and ensuring fair/transparent competition

Suggested Text for the end of the questionnaire: Europe's independent arthouse ecosystem – filmmakers, producers, distributors, cinemas, and festivals – forms a unique cultural landscape nurturing linguistic richness, creative freedom and diverse voices across borders. Arthouse cinemas are not just crucial for the economic success of European works; they are vital platforms for democratic discourse, cultural participation and artistic exchange. In times of global trade barriers and crises, protecting Europe's cultural and economic sovereignty, especially in the audiovisual sector, is more crucial than ever.

To sustain this ecosystem, the Creative Europe MEDIA program must remain an independent strand within the next Multiannual Financial Framework – with cinema as its centerpiece. MEDIA supports the entire film value chain, from development and distribution to exhibition, addressing the realities of a sector dominated by small and mid-sized players. Diluting MEDIA into broader budget categories would compromise its ability to serve the audiovisual sector's distinct needs.

Despite their critical role, funding for arthouse cinemas has stagnated while responsibilities expanded. Even in the digital age, theatrical releases remain crucial. Curation, digital communication and audience development are key to the success of independent films. We call for strengthening arthouse cinemas' competitiveness by doubling their funding and supporting measures to professionalize and transform the sector. This targeted support reaches people across Europe, empowers local cinemas, enhances cross-border circulation and safeguards Europe's cultural sovereignty. We also caution against questioning territorial exclusivity. Without it, both cultural diversity and economic sustainability in our industry would be jeopardized.

The next MFF must protect what makes Europe’s film culture thrive: its diversity, independence and shared spaces for storytelling.

The CICAE thank you for your support in this crucial time. In case of questions, please contact its General Director at sebastian.naumann@cicae.org