Brussels, 17/03/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 17 March, Croatia became the first candidate country to join the MEDIA 2007 programme. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, and Ambassador Branko Barièeviæ, Head of the Croatian Mission to the EU. Croatia is the 32nd country to join the MEDIA programme. As well as the EU27, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are also members of the programme. MEDIA 2007 will strengthen the competitiveness of the Croatian audiovisual sector by facilitating access to finance and supporting the transition towards digital technology in the development, distribution and promotion of audiovisual works, and by helping the training of Croatian film people and the cooperation between film schools. The Commission was pleased to announce that Croatia's participation in MEDIA 2007 is a result of its progress in complying with EU audiovisual rules and acquis, in particular the Television without Frontiers Directive. Croatia will, as all non-EU participating countries do, contribute to the budget of MEDIA 2007 (contribution will be of €127 333 in 2008 and increase to €139 546 in 2013). The total budget for MEDIA 2007 is €755 million for 2007 to 2013. (I.L.)