European Union News - Culture

The European Commission asks to Spain to recover €265 million public funding granted by the Valencia Regional Government to the Ciudad de la Luz film studio. According to the Commission, no private investor would have accepted to invest on the same terms and that the public funding massively distorts competition between major European film studios.

The report on the application of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive adopted by the Commission shows that, according to Vice President Neelie Kroes, the AVMS Directive is working, but also the need for further guidance on Connected TV (which is internet-enabled TV). Therefore, bearing in mind internet-driven changes, the Commission is launching a public consultation on Connected TV.

The fourth consecutive annual health prize for journalists was launched by the European Commission, in order to award journalists that submit articles on the Europe for Patients campaign; Active and healthy ageing, in light of the European Year for active ageing and solidarity between generations 2012; or smoking cessation.

The social partners representing the professional football sector signed their first agreement setting minimum contract requirements, in order to ensure that player contracts throughout Europe meet certain minimum standard among other things.

A joint declaration was signed by Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, and Liu Yandong, Chinese State Councillor, in which the EU and China commit to strengthening contacts and exchanges between their peoples in order to deepen understanding and trust. The launched dialogue covers co-operation in education, culture, youth, research and multilingualism.

The organisers of the MEDEA Awards have just launched 2012’s call for entries which will be opened until 17 of September. The MEDEA Awards recognise and promote innovation and good practice in the use of digital moving images and sound in education,
as well as excellence in the production and pedagogical design of media-rich learning resources.

Europeana, which is a single access point to millions of books, paintings, films, museum objects and archival records that have been digitised throughout Europe, will now count with Films about World War 1 that have never been seen outside a cinema or on television. These films are going to be available on the internet for the first time ever.

A new EU research led by Professor Rebecca Cassidy who an ERC Starting Grant proposes a new approach to gambling focusing on its social and cultural aspects rather than on its pathological implications. The research team focuses on four case studies representing some of the most important features of gambling in Europe. Gambling in Europe is estimated to be worth €89 billion.

The European Commission announced that the Iranian director Asghar Farhadi will be awarded with the first EU MEDIA prize in a ceremony celebrated during the 65th Cannes Film Festival, on the 20 of May.

Throughout the promotion and information measures for European agricultural products, the European Commission intends to make the agriculture and agri‑food sector more dynamic and more competitive and to promote sustainable, intelligent and inclusive growth.