Brussels, 14/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - Professionals from the audiovisuals sector have expressed considerable concern at the comments of Gerrit Zalm, the Dutch President of the Ecofin Council, in an interview with the Financial Times last week. He said, amongst other things, "I don't believe in European film". For Eurocinema, the association of film and television producers, Mr Zalm's comments are the sign "of the Presidency's choice of a zero euro budget for Media", the Community programme to support the audiovisuals sector, for which the European Commission has proposed a budget of 1.055 billion EUR for the period 2007-2013. "Expressing that way, in the name of the Dutch Presidency, which is supposed to represent the community general interest, and advocating a partisan position which does not reflect the opinion of the community institution and of the various presidencies which took pains to improve the status of the cinematographic and audiovisual sector, Eurocinema considers that the president Zalm made a political error", continues the association. FERA (Federation of European Film Directors) reiterates the importance of the audiovisual and cinema sectors, which bear witness to the wealth and cultural diversity of the European Union, and are an effective way for citizens to get to know and familiarise themselves with the customs of their neighbours. FERA underlines the particular challenges the sector finds itself faced with these days with the enlargement of the EU: without the aid of European programmes, the new Member States do not have the means to upkeep their audiovisual national heritage and distribute it. The Federation also points out that the audiovisual sector contributes to the EU GDP to the tune of 5.3%, and is therefore economically important. This percentage could be even higher thanks to support action which encourages competition and creativity in the industries concerned. In conclusion, FERA hopes that "Minister Gerrit Zalm will reconsider the economic and commercial importance a healthy cinematographic and audiovisual industry represents to the European Union".