Council of Europe and EBU Launch New €50,000 Award to Support European TV Drama
Implementation of the award will take place within the Council of Europe’s pilot programme for series co-productions, administered through Eurimages.
RMN Stars TV Desk
New Delhi | February 12, 2026
STRASBOURG – The Council of Europe and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have officially launched the European Series Development award. This joint initiative is formalized through a new memorandum of understanding aimed at supporting high-quality European drama series designed for international co-production. The partnership builds on a previous agreement signed in 2011 and reaffirms shared commitments to democracy, human rights, and cultural diversity.
The award provides €50,000 in development support to advance ambitious drama projects that have the potential to become successful European co-productions. To qualify, projects must focus on independent storytelling, strengthen cross-border collaboration, and demonstrate strong relevance to European democratic values. Selected beneficiaries will enter into a grant agreement directly with the Council of Europe.
The initiative was previewed on January 28 at the TV Drama Vision event during the Gothenburg Film Festival in Sweden. A formal joint call for projects is set to launch on February 13, 2026, with a final submission deadline of March 18, 2026. Following an expert review, a jury composed of representatives from both organizations and an independent professional will select up to two winning projects.
Implementation of the award will take place within the Council of Europe’s pilot programme for series co-productions, administered through Eurimages. The project is also supported by the EBU Drama Initiative and the EBU Fiction Expert Group. By combining the Council of Europe’s mission with the EBU’s public service media expertise, the award aims to foster a more vibrant and diverse European drama landscape.
