Brussels, 6 April 2022 – ISFE and EGDF welcome recommendations made by the EU’s Culture Ministers this week. They would, in the future, allow Member States increased flexibility in providing financial support to Europe’s video games industry in order to improve its global standing.
In its recommendations, “Building a European Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries”, the Culture Council acknowledges the value of video games to Europe’s economy and calls for financial aid rules to be adapted to allow for more flexible public support for the video games sector when the European Commission reviews state aid rules in 2023.
ISFE CEO Simon Little said: “This recommendation is an important political recognition of the value the sector brings to Europe. This will make it easier for EU countries to support their industry locally and to invest in the growth of Europe’s video game footprint. The video game sector should be seen as a strategic asset for Europe’s digital and creative growth and innovation capacity.”
EGDF Managing Director Jari-Pekka Kaleva said: “In many member states, public support for game developers and publishers has played a crucial role in enabling artistic risk-taking and accelerating the growth of the sector. Allowing Member States more flexibility in providing appropriate financial support is extremely welcome and will ultimately help Europe remain a frontrunner in digital culture, benefiting both society and the wider economy.”
Click here for European video games industry market data.
Contacts for ISFE:
Heidi Lambert, tel: +44 7932 141291
Email: heidi.lambert@isfe.eu
www.isfe.eu
Twitter: @ISFE_Games
Players are at the heart of what we do.
Since 1998, ISFE has ensured that the voice of a responsible games ecosystem is heard and understood, that its creative and economic potential is supported and celebrated, and that players around the world continue to enjoy great video game playing experiences. ISFE represents the video games industry in Europe and is based in Brussels, Belgium. Our membership comprises national trade associations in 18 countries across Europe which represent in turn thousands of developers and publishers at national level. ISFE also has as direct members the leading European and international video game companies.
Contact for EGDF:
Jari-Pekka Kaleva, tel: +358 40 716 3640
Managing Director, European Games Developer Federation (EGDF)
Senior Policy Analyst, Neogames Finland ry.
Email: Jari-pekka.kaleva@egdf.eu
www.egdf.eu
Twitter: @jpkaleva
Uniting the industry
The European Games Developer Federation e.f. (EGDF) unites national trade associations representing game developer studios from Austria (PGDA), Belgium (FLEGA), Czechia (GDACZ), Denmark (Producentforeningen), Finland (Suomen pelinkehittäjät), France (SNJV), Germany (GAME), Italy (IIDEA), Malta (MVGSA), Netherlands (DGA), Norway (VIRKE Produsentforeningen), Poland (PGA), Romania (RGDA), Spain (DEV), Sweden (Spelplan-ASGD), Slovakia (SGDA), Turkey (TOGED) and the United Kingdom (TIGA). Altogether, through its members, EGDF represents more than 2,000 game developer studios, most of them SMEs, employing more than 25,000 people.