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This report (Vlassis, A., Psychogiopoulou, E, Kandyla, A. and Sarikakis, K. (Eds) (2025)) examines EU film promotion by states and EU policies. It highlights the need for stronger gender equality support in the audiovisual sector.

Part B, authored by Evangelia Psychogiopoulou (ELIAMEP), Anna Kandyla (ELIAMEP), Pelin Turan (SSSA), Apostolos Samaras (ELIAMEP), Laia Comerma (ELIAMEP), and Caterina Sganga (SSSA), forms part of T3.5 (EU law and governance and the promotion of the EFI on the international scene). It examines and assesses whether—and, if so, how—EU law and policies promote European audiovisual works and film beyond the borders of the EU. It does so by mapping the policies and instruments in place, identifying their characteristics, complementarities, enablers and limitations in enhancing the internationalisation of the European audiovisual industry. The analysis focuses in particular on agreements the EU has negotiated with third countries and regions concerning trade facilitation and cooperation in the audiovisual and film sectors. It also  considers EU funding instruments supporting the audiovisual sector and external action in this field. Methodologically, the study draws on extensive desk research and the analysis of a range of primary and secondary sources, complemented by insights gathered through semi-structured interviews with EU officials and film stakeholders. Overall, the findings indicate that EU agreements with third countries, along with audiovisual cooperation and external funding tools, include various elements that can boost the positioning of European films worldwide, although the scope of these instruments varies. The analysis also suggests that considerable untapped potential remains and calls for a comprehensive internationalisation strategy that promotes the competitiveness of the European audiovisual sector while supporting cultural diversity.

The report is available here.

Le gouvernement américain a fermé ses portes après que les républicains et les démocrates ont échoué à résoudre un différend budgétaire.

Chaque jour, Gora Fall, un pêcheur local de la ville de Saint-Louis, dans le nord du Sénégal, part en mer avec des sentiments mitigés : espoir et frustration. Les pêcheurs affirment que l'énorme installation offshore exploitée par BP les empêche désormais de survivre.

Der slowakische Ministerpräsident Robert Fico gehört zu den lautstarken Kritikern der Russlandpolitik der Europäischen Union und des Westens insgesamt. Fico, der seit Herbst 2023 einem linksnationalen Regierungsbündnis vorsteht, fordert eine Kurs­wende gegenüber Moskau und eine »friedensorientierte« Neuaufstellung des Westens bei der Unterstützung der Ukraine. Für Ficos russlandfreundliches Gebaren gibt es historische und innenpolitische Gründe. Sein Agieren ist Bestandteil einer von ihm selbst so bezeichneten »Außenpolitik in alle vier Himmelsrichtungen«. Trotz der zur Schau gestellten Russlandnähe, einer Übereinstimmung mit Moskau in Fragen der sicherheitspolitischen Ordnung und zahlreichen Konflikten mit der Ukraine unterstützt Fico den EU-Beitritt des Nachbarlands und bilaterale Kooperationsformate. Für Deutschland ist von Bedeutung, ob die Slowakei zu einem Veto-Player in der EU-Russ­landpolitik wird oder ob sie ihre Kombination aus Russlandnähe, verbaler Kritik an der Sicherheitspolitik des Westens, doch gleichzeitig auch pragmatischer Unter­stützung für die Ukraine fortführen wird.

As Cyprus assumes its second Presidency of the European Union, it steps into a role defined by crisis and change. The contrast with its first Presidency (2012) could not be sharper. Then, multilateralism prevailed; collaboration was possible, and conflict manageable. Today, multilateralism is under siege, conflicts dominate, and Europe faces existential challenges: its Union and Security, its Internal and Capital Markets, its Competitiveness, its Freedom and Values.

Every Presidency has one duty: to carry the Union’s business forward. For Cyprus, the central test will be guiding the negotiations on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This is an exercise in listening, negotiation, and compromise. More than anything, it will demand that Cyprus acts as an honest broker — a role where smaller member states often succeed more than larger ones.

Three Tests of Success

Like all Presidencies, Cyprus will be judged on three fronts:

• Institutional: Can it leave a footprint by steering the MFF to conclusion?
• Representational: Can it represent a policy theme, bigger than its national interest that endures? Water, as a scarce resource and driver of conflict and migration –with impact across continents -, could anchor a “Nicosia Declaration on Water.”
• Reputational: Can it use neutrality to build a legacy as a convener of peace and compromise?

It is commendable that Cyprus wants to include regional neighbors as observers in EU deliberations. The EuroMediterranean region — 500 million people, 10% of global GDP — is paradoxically the least interconnected in the world. Intra-regional trade is just one quarter of total trade. For a decade, progress has been negligible.

Cyprus, as the EU’s southeastern border, can help change this. By bringing neighbors into the European conversation, it can foster trade, collaboration, and peace. But this must be pursued with neutrality and as part of a long-term strategy and within EU’s governance model— not as a one-off gesture.

The Presidency is about Europe’s collective good, not national gain. Yet Cyprus’ reality cannot be ignored. It remains divided, with EU law barred from 30% of its territory. And, it is Europe’s only isolated island Member State.

This Presidency can remind Cypriots of the benefits of EU membership. It can remind Europeans of the reality that part of EU territory remains occupied by Turkey — an EU trade partner and NATO member. That contradiction must never be normalized, and it must never be replicated elsewhere.

Cyprus should not instrumentalize its occupation and division but deploy it as a precedent and the learnings which point to European security risks, given the current world order, prevailing Russia threats across the EU’s borders and continuing conflict between Israel, Palestine and regional actors.

Cyprus’ Presidency comes at a moment when Europe needs resilience and vision. It is an opportunity for a small state to leave a large footprint. To prove that neutrality can be strength. To show that Cyprus is not an island on the margins, but a player at the heart of Europe’s frontier.

Photo: Flickr

During the press conference held at the end of the informal meeting of heads of state or government of 1 October 2025 in Copenhagen, President António Costa presented the main results of the discussions.

Before the start of the informal meeting of heads of state or government of 1 October 2025, European Council President António Costa addressed the press in Copenhagen.

European Council President António Costa met with the Mayors for Housing Alliance in Brussels, followed by a press conference. 

President Costa and President von der Leyen received letters of credence from the Ambassadors of Iceland and Israel.

Council approves conclusions on life science for the Union’s competitiveness.

Council approves conclusions on the importance of research and innovation for the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy.

Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the parliamentary elections in Moldova held on 28 September 2025.

On 29 September 2025, European Council President António Costa was in Madrid at the New Economy Forum to give a speech after receiving the Forum Europa Prize from the King of Spain.

The Council prolonged sanctions regime by one year, in the light of the political and social situation in Nicaragua.

The Council has adopted a regulation that will improve the overall quality of population and housing statistics collected at EU level by establishing a common legal framework for data collection.

Carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM): Council and Parliament reach a provisional agreement on its simplification.

Today the Council adopted the soil monitoring law to track soil health, manage contaminated sites and mitigate land take, aiming for healthy soils by 2050.

The Council reimposed all the restrictive measures against Iran that had been lifted after the introduction of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in July 2015 in light of UN Security Council’s decision to not extend the lifting of sanctions on Iran following the snapback mechanism invoked by the E3.

Israel/Palestine: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the closure of the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge crossing.

Mali: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union