Ukraine has become the 42nd member of the European Audiovisual Observatory (EAO), which operates under the auspices of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Ukraine’s interests will be represented in the Executive Council, the main governing body of the Observatory, by the National Council of Ukraine on Television and Radio Broadcasting. The representation is carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. The official representative of Ukraine in the Executive Council is the Chair of the National Council, Olha Herasymiuk. Ukraine’s membership came into effect on June 19, 2025.
On 8 July, the first online meeting took place between EAO Executive Director Susanne Nikoltchev and Olha Herasymiuk. Maja Cappello, Head of the Department for Legal Information; Gilles Fontaine, Head of the Department for Market Information; and employees of the National Council also participated in the event.
The Chair of the media regulator, Olha Herasymiuk, expressed her gratitude to the European Audiovisual Observatory for standing by Ukraine, especially during the process of joining the organization as its 42nd member. She also thanked everyone who has supported and continues to assist Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and, in particular, the funding of Ukraine’s membership in the Observatory.
The Executive Director of the European Audiovisual Observatory, Susanne Nikoltchev, noted that Ukraine’s accession to the Observatory is a long-anticipated step.
“We are truly pleased to welcome Ukraine into the family of the European Audiovisual Observatory. This decision has been in the making for some time, and its implementation marks an important step toward strengthening our cooperation. Ukraine’s membership is an act of solidarity during challenging times for your country and a recognition of its role in the European media landscape,” said Susanne Nikoltchev.
During the meeting, the parties discussed key areas of cooperation between Ukraine and the European Audiovisual Observatory:
- Legal newsletter: The Ukrainian side may contribute to the monthly publications on developments in national media legislation by providing an expert.
- Regional analytical report: Ukraine will be included in the report on South-Eastern Europe. The EAO invites Ukrainian experts to participate in its preparation.
- Workshop in Strasbourg: In November 2025, Ukrainian representatives will have the opportunity to take part in the annual media regulation workshop.
Susanne Nikoltchev emphasized the importance of Ukraine’s active participation in the work of the Observatory, particularly through expanding the network of national media law experts. She supported Maja Cappello’s proposal to involve Ukrainian specialists in the preparation of legal materials, including contributions to the monthly IRIS newsletter. Ms. Nikoltchev stressed that cooperation should be mutual: Ukraine helps the EAO tell the country’s story to the world, while the Observatory integrates Ukraine’s experience into the broader European context.
The participants also agreed to familiarize Ukrainian representatives with the functioning mechanisms of the EAO Executive Council, as well as to provide more detail on the annual planning process within the framework of the 2024–2028 strategy. In particular, it envisions the possible expansion of research and reporting topics.
The European Audiovisual Observatory, based in Strasbourg, serves as the Council of Europe’s information center on film, television, and the streaming industry across 41 European countries. It provides key data and legal analysis in these fields.
Ukraine’s new membership means that the European Audiovisual Observatory will now be able to include facts and figures about Ukraine in its reports and databases. In addition, Ukraine will have the opportunity to join various networks that contribute to and benefit from this flow of information. According to the press service, this will enhance Ukraine’s visibility and support the efforts of its professionals working across different audiovisual sectors.
In turn, Ukrainian professionals in the fields of film, television, and streaming will gain access to the Observatory’s resources and be able to deepen their understanding of the European audiovisual sector.
It was previously reported that Ukraine’s accession to the European Audiovisual Observatory became possible thanks to a decision by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to exempt the country from paying mandatory contributions to the Observatory’s budget. 22 EAO member states have voluntarily committed to providing financial support for Ukraine’s participation in the organization for the years 2025–2026.
