Documentaries
17 documentaries chosen for their rigour. For each: who made it, who produced it, where to watch it and until when. When a film argues a thesis or was made with the cooperation of its subjects, we say so.
History of European integration 3
1952-1953: The Cold War in Europe
Directed by Mathias Haentjes
The early days of European integration, told through archive footage, as the Cold War hardens.
Free on arte.tv until 11 December 2026 · available everywhere
Watch on arte.tv
Jacques Delors, itinéraire d’un Européen
Directed by Cécile Amar
Jacques Delors looks back on his life, including his ten years as President of the European Commission.
First-person account.
Aired on France 5 on 8 May 2022. No free streaming today.
See the pageEurope’s Deadliest Border
Directed by Oliver Halmburger
Deaths on the Czechoslovak border during the Cold War, and the investigations since.
Free on arte.tv until 4 December 2026 · available in Europe
Watch on arte.tv
The institutions, behind the scenes 6
Europe: Three cities, one roof
Directed by Donato Rotunno · Production Tarantula Luxembourg, Cerigo Films, France Télévisions
Why the institutions are split between Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg, with Jean-Claude Juncker, Catherine Trautmann and Louis Michel among the witnesses.
Aired on France 3 Grand Est on 17 September 2026. Replay not confirmed.
See the pageMacron-Merz: Power Behind the Scenes
Directed by Manuel Saint-Paul
The Franco-German partnership at work, from the European relaunch to the crisis over the Mercosur deal.
Filmed with access granted by the leaders: told close to their point of view.
Free on arte.tv until 2 January 2028 · available in Europe
Watch on arte.tvL’Europe au défi de l’ingérence étrangère
Directed by Helmar Büchel · Production ECO Media TV-Produktion
The Qatargate scandal and the European Parliament’s exposure to corruption and foreign influence.
Free on arte.tv until 16 September 2027 · France and Germany only
Watch on arte.tvBruxelles, ton univers impitoyable
Directed by Yann-Anthony Noghès · Production Check Productions, LCP, RTBF, France Télévisions
Eighteen months behind the scenes of negotiations among the 27: recovery plan, climate, vaccines.
Aired on France 2 on 6 May 2021. No replay confirmed today.
See the page
Inside Europe: Ten Years of Turmoil
Directed by Tim Stirzaker, Tania Rakhmanova · Production Brook Lapping (série produite par Norma Percy)
The euro crisis, the migration crisis and Brexit, told by Europe’s leaders themselves.
BBC iPlayer, UK only. In English.
See the page- Feature film
Democracy
Democracy – Im Rausch der Daten
Directed by David Bernet · Production INDI FILM, Seppia, SWR, NDR, avec ARTE, RTS et YLE
How the EU data protection regulation (GDPR) was negotiated inside the European Parliament.
No free streaming found.
See the page
Europe, war and the world 6
Europe, le choix des armes
Directed by Olivier Toscer
Why Europe disarmed after the Cold War, and what rearming costs in the face of Russia and US retrenchment.
Free on arte.tv until 7 September 2027 · available in Europe
Watch on arte.tvArmement européen : des milliards pour quoi faire ?
Directed by Árpád Bondy, Harald Schumann
An investigation into how effectively Europe spends on defence.
An investigation with a critical thesis.
Free on arte.tv until 15 September 2043 · France and Germany only
Watch on arte.tvPoutine : après l’Ukraine, l’Europe ?
Directed by Boris Benjamin Bertram
How NATO and the Europeans are rethinking their defence as Russia rearms.
Free on arte.tv until 24 April 2027 · available in Europe
Watch on arte.tvRussie-Finlande : le nouveau front ?
Directed by Federico Lodoli
Finland, an EU and NATO member, on the front line along its border with Russia.
Free on arte.tv until 1 February 2027 · available in Europe
Watch on arte.tvLa guerre de Poutine
Directed by Norma Percy
The first year of the war in Ukraine told by the decision-makers, from Volodymyr Zelensky to Boris Johnson.
Free on arte.tv until 21 November 2026 · France and Germany only
Watch on arte.tvRussie - Otan, tensions en mer Baltique
Directed by Knut Weinrich
The Baltic Sea, a zone of tension between Russia and its European neighbours since February 2022.
Free on arte.tv until 31 December 2026 · France and Germany only
Watch on arte.tv
Society 1
Europe at a Crossroads: the new Europeans
Directed by Nina Maria Paschalidou
Migration to Europe and how countries receive, or turn away, newcomers.
Takes a stance on asylum policies.
Free on arte.tv until 23 January 2027 · available in Europe
Watch on arte.tv
Separately: independent productions
These films did not go through a broadcaster. They are listed for their interest, with how they were funded and their limits.
Europe : il va falloir arrêter de subir
Directed by Augustin Chénard · Production Collision Productions, Orso Media (Matthieu Stefani, GDIY)
A tour of European innovation (Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Ukraine, the UK) asking why the continent is falling behind the US and China.
Self-produced and funded by a brand (Qonto, paid partnership). A thesis film: Europe is too slow. Its description puts the cost of the Strasbourg sessions at up to €200 million a year; the European Court of Auditors puts it at €114 million. Source
Free on YouTube.
Watch on YouTube
How we choose
- An identified director and producer, credits checked on the broadcaster’s or producer’s page.
- Broadcasters known for their standards: Arte first, then the BBC, France Télévisions and documentary cinema.
- No campaign films, no institutional content presented as independent, no conspiracy content. A thesis film can be listed if it is serious: its thesis is then flagged.
- Availability dates on arte.tv are checked automatically (last check: 1 November 2026). Some Arte films can only be watched in France and Germany.
A documentary to suggest? Write to us