State of Signatures and Ratifications on 1 April 1997 of the: European Convention on transfrontier television European Convention on cinematographic co-production

IRIS 1997-4:1/7

Ad van Loon

European Audiovisual Observatory

In IRIS 1996-5: 10 we published an overview of the State of Signatures and Ratifications of all European Conventions and other international treaties that are relevant to the audio-visual sector.

In IRIS 1996-7: 5, IRIS 1996-8: 6 (September issue); IRIS 1996-9: 7 (October issue), IRIS 1996-10: 5, IRIS Special 1996 and in IRIS 1997-2: 4 we updated this overview.

We can now report that in the meantime, Romania signed the European Convention on transfrontier television (on 18 March 1997).

The Czech Republic signed the European Convention on cinematographic co-production on 24 February 1997 without reservation as to ratification, which means that the Convention will enter into force for the Czech Republic on 1 June 1997. On that same date, this Convention will also enter into force for Italy, which signed the Convention on 29 October 1993, and ratified it on 14 February 1997.

Thus, as from 1 June 1997, producers in 17 member States of the Council of Europe involved in European co-productions with producers from at least two other States that signed the European Convention on cinematographic co-production, will not only benefit from the same subsidies as the national producers in the co-production States, but they can also count on it that the necessary formalities to be fulfilled by those involved in the co-production (such as obtaining work permits) will be guaranteed.