EC announces billion Euro proposal for new MEDIA programme

The European Commission recently published ambitious proposals for MEDIA 2007, the audiovisual support programme proposed to succeed MEDIA Plus.
The proposed budget for MEDIA 2007 is €1,055,000,000 which combines both the MEDIA Plus and MEDIA Training programmes and "symbolises the European Union’s strong commitment to the audiovisual sector".
The programme will again target the preproduction sector (through initial vocational training and the facilitation of financing for SMEs for example) and postproduction sector (through distribution and promotion of European projects for example).
Welcoming the proposal, Richard Williams, Northern Ireland Film and Television Council Chief Executive, said: “The MEDIA programme is a vital additional support mechanism for the development of any national industry within Europe. As such we endorse this proposal to continue the programme beyond 2007 and would urge local MEPs and the European Parliament in general to adopt the proposal as submitted. The Northern Ireland audiovisual industry should benefit greatly from it and it in turn could have a significant impact on the economy of Northern Ireland.”
(GB)