The European Parliament has given its approval to the creation of  Media Mundus audiovisual cooperation programme with third countries for the period 2011-2013, financed with 15 million euros. With him, it is intended to boost the competitiveness of European cinema at the international level and encourage collaboration in this field between the EU and the outside.

The presentation, adopted by the favorable vote of 484 MEPs to vote, against 16 who voted against and 25 abstained, argues that this initiative will strengthen international cooperation through professional financing programmes for learning and scholarship exchange.

The initiative also will boost co-productions between the EU and third countries by facilitating access to trade finance, support for the development of scripts and the establishment of professional contacts. Also, Media Mundus will improve the international distribution of films through financial support for print, subtitling, advertising, for theaters and for broadcast channels.

More business and more jobs

MEPs also expect that Media Mundus will create new business opportunities and jobs for professionals in Europe and around the world and  will boost european culture.

Audiovisual international demand has grown constantly in recent years, driven by the development of new technologies and the emergence of new markets in Asia and Latin America. In that line, and to adapt to market needs, MEPs stress the need to promote the learning of new technologies.

For the rapporteur, German MEP Ruth Hieronimy, Media Mundus helps to "project the idea of an European dream. The American dream has been planned for decades through cinema, it is time that the Europeans do the same." Currently, the European audiovisual sector is supported by the Media Programme, which has a total budget of 754.95 million euros for the period 2007-2013 and has funded recent films such as Hollywood Oscar winner for best film Slumdog Millionaire (United Kingdom), Gomorra (Italy) and La Vie en Rose (France), whose protagonist, Marion Cotillard, was also awarded the Academy Award for best actress.