Skopje, 18–19 November 2025 – Skopje hosted one of the most significant regional gatherings on audiovisual authors’ rights to date, uniting CMOs, authors, diplomats, institutions and copyright experts from across Central and Eastern Europe. The seminar “Authors First: Copyright as the Cornerstone of Creativity and Culture in the Audiovisual Sector” was organised by the Society of Audiovisual Authors (SAA) in cooperation with AZAS, AIPA Slovenia, and ZAPA Poland, marking a coordinated step toward building stronger and more consistent copyright frameworks in the Western Balkans.

International Support Marked a Strong Opening

The seminar opened with highly aligned messages from key international stakeholders.

Barbara Hayes, Chair of the SAA, encouraged participants to turn dialogue into concrete progress. She emphasised that while national challenges differ, the region’s goals are shared. Hayes highlighted examples from Slovenia and Serbia, where professionalised CMOs now collect higher retransmission revenues for audiovisual repertoires than for music – demonstrating what focused, long-term work can achieve.

Representing the World Intellectual Property Organization, Michele Woods conveyed greetings from WIPO’s leadership and reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to audiovisual authors. She highlighted the new proposal for a WIPO study on authors’ remuneration, noting that it is an essential step in advancing international discussion on the economic position of authors.

Christophe Le Rigoleur, French Ambassador, underscored France’s historic leadership in authors’ rights, from Beaumarchais in the 18th century to the establishment of SACD in 1829. He reiterated that authors are at the heart of cultural value and that fair remuneration is fundamental to sustaining creativity.

Gregor Presker, Slovenian Ambassador, reflected on the follow-up efforts since last year’s seminar, sharing that he had raised the region’s copyright challenges with diplomatic colleagues, stakeholders and the President of the North Macedonian Parliament. His intervention signalled Slovenia’s continued dedication to supporting improvements in copyright governance.

Organisers Emphasised Purpose and Commitment

As hosts and co-organisers, representatives of AZAS, SAA, ZAPA and AIPA stressed the importance of coordinated regional engagement.

Kiril Gjozev (AZAS) stated:

“This seminar is a bridge between regional experience and national reform. Our authors need a system that works in practice, not only on paper. The international support expressed here confirms that this challenge is shared.”

Cécile Despringre (SAA) added:

“Skopje has shown that the region is ready to align with European standards. Collaboration between CMOs, institutions and policymakers is essential for strengthening remuneration systems.”

Sylwia Biaduń (ZAPA Poland) highlighted ZAPA’s support for regional professionalisation:

“Transparent and stable CMOs benefit all authors. Strengthening cooperation is crucial for developing sustainable and reciprocal systems.”

Gregor Štibernik (AIPA Slovenia) emphasised operational clarity:

“Slovenia’s progress shows what is possible when CMOs and institutions work in alignment. The momentum created here in Skopje is valuable for the entire region.”

What Was Discussed: Regional Realities, Practical Solutions and Common Challenges

Throughout the seminar, participants focused on the practical realities of collective management and the steps needed to modernise audiovisual copyright systems.

Speakers from Spain, Slovakia and North Macedonia outlined how strong CMOs operate – and what happens when a system cannot function. Spain’s representative, Ricardo Gómez Cabaleiro (DAMA), explained that without an approved tariff, a CMO cannot legally collect or distribute remuneration, leaving authors unprotected.

Jana Vozárová (LITA Slovakia) described how clear legislation, stable governance and transparent procedures significantly strengthened Slovakia’s system.
In contrast, Kiril Gjozev (AZAS) highlighted that although AZAS’ tariff received a positive opinion from the Copyright Commission in January 2024, it still awaits Government approval – leaving Macedonian and foreign authors without remuneration for years.

From the perspective of creators, Srđan Dragojević (Serbia) spoke about the disconnect between public recognition and economic protection, while Liina Trishkina-Vanhatalo (Estonia) stressed that predictable income is essential for sustainable careers, especially in smaller markets.

Panel discussions with CMO leaders from Croatia, Poland, Slovenia and Serbia showed common ground:

• governance reforms ensure stability (Danko Stefanović, DHFA),
• transparency builds legitimacy (Sylwia Biaduń, ZAPA),
• predictable regulation benefits all stakeholders (Gregor Štibernik, AIPA), and
• regional interdependence makes blockages in one country problematic for all (Stefan Gelineo, UFUS-AFA).

The discussion on sustainable audiovisual ecosystems included insights from Klemen Dvornik (Slovenia), who emphasised how remuneration supports long-term production capacity, and Ognen Antov (North Macedonia), who underlined the need for legal certainty in co-productions and rights clearance.

Finally, Lirak Çelaj (VAPIK Kosovo) stressed that Western Balkan countries must advance together if they want consistent and reciprocal systems that function across borders.

The Skopje Declaration: A Unified Regional Position

At the end of the seminar, participants adopted the Skopje Declaration, a joint statement reaffirming:

• solidarity with AZAS and recognition of its readiness to operate,
• the need for immediate approval of the AZAS tariff,
• coordinated action by the Government, Parliament, Ministry of Culture and Ministry of European Affairs,
• active engagement from the EU Delegation and EU Member State embassies in Skopje,
• alignment with the DSM and SatCab II Directives,
• and a commitment by regional CMOs to strengthen cooperation, transparency and reciprocity.

The Declaration positions Skopje as a constructive regional forum and signals that resolving authors’ rights challenges in North Macedonia is essential for broader regional cultural and economic development.

The Regional Seminar in Skopje demonstrated a clear, unified message:
international institutions, regional CMOs and authors stand firmly behind efforts to establish functioning, transparent and European-aligned collective rights management in North Macedonia.

The event reinforced that improving authors’ remuneration is not only a cultural issue – it is an economic and European integration priority. With strong cooperation already in place, the next steps depend on institutional implementation.