State Aid for Films and Other Audiovisual Works – Current Affairs and New Developments

I. Introduction In EStAL 2/2011 Sylvie Nérisson commented on the Commission’s “Carte Musique Jeune” decision1 and concluded that “State aid should help new business models to develop, not old ones to survive”.2 The audiovisual sector is facing a similar technological revolution and changing consumer behaviour, to that which has affected the music sector for more then a decade. In 2001, the Commission had adopted a Communication on certain legal aspects relating to cinematographic and other audiovisual works, the so-called “Cinema Communication”3. This Communication sets out the criteria according to which aid for the production of films for cinema and TV can be approved as cul...