1. What is it?

A European Works Declaration is a formal certification that confirms a film or television program qualifies as a “European Work” under the criteria set forth in the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) and corresponding national laws. This designation allows broadcasters and platforms in the EU to count the film toward their legally mandated quotas for European content.

The declaration affirms that the work was produced in an EU member state (or qualifying associated country), that the creative and production teams meet nationality or residency thresholds, and that financing meets EU-origin criteria.

2. Who is it for?

This document is required by or useful for:

European film distributors and broadcasters
Sales agents and rights holders selling into Europe
Producers applying for European subsidies or incentives
Streamers and TV networks in the EU needing to meet content quotas
Legal delivery teams managing international sales

It is commonly requested during legal delivery to platforms like ARTE, Canal+, Sky Europe, Netflix EU, or public broadcasters across the EU.

3. What does it include?

The European Works Declaration generally consists of the following:

Section	Details
Film Title	The legal and original title of the work
Production Company	Name and country of the main production entity
Co-Producers	If applicable, list of official co-producing partners and their countries
Countries of Origin	Where the production qualifies for European status
European Status Basis	Reference to AVMSD or specific co-production treaty (e.g. Eurimages, Council of Europe)
Points Test (if applicable)	Confirmation that the production satisfies cultural or nationality point systems used in many European countries
Declaration Statement	A formal statement certifying the work qualifies as a European Work
Signature Block	Name, title, and contact information of producer or authorized representative
Letterhead	Issued on official production company letterhead

Key Points to Remember

Essential for EU legal delivery
Can impact platform compliance with EU content quotas
Best issued on production company letterhead
Should align with production and financing records (budget, co-pro treaties, etc.)
May be required alongside Certificate of Origin and Chain of Title

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