The Council of Europe and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) have launched the new European Series Development Award to support high-quality European drama series.
Building on the memorandum of understanding they first signed in 2011, the two organisations are reinforcing their partnership through this initiative, reaffirming their shared commitment to democracy, human rights, cultural diversity, freedom of expression, and media pluralism.
The award will provide €50,000 in development funding to ambitious European drama projects with strong international co-production potential. Selected beneficiaries will sign a grant agreement with the Council of Europe.
The initiative aims to promote independent European storytelling, strengthen cross-border co-productions, and enhance collaboration between producers and public service broadcasters.
The programme will be implemented under the Council of Europe’s pilot co-production scheme run through Eurimages, with support from the EBU Drama Initiative and the EBU Fiction Expert Group.
The joint call for projects opened on February 13, with a submission deadline of March 18, 2026. Following an expert evaluation and shortlisting process, up to two projects will receive the award.
Overall, the initiative is designed to reinforce cross-border creative collaboration within the European drama sector and encourage content that aligns with democratic values.
