Twelve years ago, Netflix arrived in Belgium. From those early days, our goal was simple: to share great stories with Belgian audiences and bring Belgian creativity to members around the world. Since then, Netflix has become part of daily life for many here, and we\u2019re proud to play an active role in Belgium\u2019s vibrant creative community.<\/p>\n
Over the past decade, we\u2019ve worked hand in hand with independent producers, writers and directors to create truly local stories such as Undercover, Johnny par Johnny, Into the Night, Ang\u00e8le, Rough Diamonds, La Femme la Plus Assassin\u00e9e du Monde and many more. Born and brought up in Brussels and \u201cbelge de coeur\u201d, I\u2019m deeply proud of how these projects showcase our talent to the world. Through our partnerships with initiatives like youth platform WAJOW and the new Mediawijs programme for high schools, linked to our series Adolescence, we also support the next generation of storytellers.<\/p>\n
Our commitment runs deeper than individual productions. Between 2020 and 2023 alone, Netflix invested more than \u20ac6.5 billion in European TV and films, supporting 60,000 jobs across the region. We\u2019ve consistently and constructively worked with European regulators towards sensible national investment obligations under the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.<\/p>\n
Yet we are concerned that the new investment rules in the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Wallonie-Bruxelles are unworkable and risk undermining the very goals they aim to achieve. The required contribution level is more than double that of most European countries and almost four times higher than Wallonia\u2019s previous standard. Plus, the proposal excludes many of the investments that most directly benefit creators such as licensing titles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Far from strengthening Belgium\u2019s creative sector, these rules would limit opportunities for local storytellers and restrict the diversity of stories we can bring to viewers. That would run counter to the spirit of the EU directive itself, whose purpose is to help audiences discover and enjoy a greater variety of European stories.<\/p>\n