Members discuss on a common European status for artists, a common framework for working conditions and pan-European minimum social standards for artists and cultural workers. Statement by Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), author of the report on the situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU and the vote results (Wednesday 20 October).

debate

plenary session

SEMEDO, Monica (Renew, LU)

Coronavirus outbreak (T)

social life (T)

creative europe (T)

The situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU: statement by Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), rapporteur and extract from the final vote

SOUNDBITE (English), Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), Rapporteur, The cultural and creative sector is one of the hardest hit during during the COVID pandemic. It has experienced losses in turnover of over 30 percent. That's a lot. There are several sectors that suffered much more than others, for example, the performing arts sector due to the cancelation of performances, and that they have experienced a loss in turnover of about 98 percent.

SOUNDBITE (English), Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), Rapporteur, It was especially difficult for small productions, and it often meant bankruptcy for them, unfortunately.

SOUNDBITE (English), Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), Rapporteur, In my report, I have asked to earmark two percent of the Recovery and Resilience Facility for Culture, which is an important hub as such. But in the report, I also stressed other house and support for artists and cultural workers, for example, better access to social security, unemployment allowance, health care and pensions. Then also, one important topic is the cross-border factor. So artists that work across cross border should be supported by a mobility and information point, which I asked the commission to install in order to get information. What permits, for example, they need to cross border and also to avoid double taxation, which is also a problem.

SOUNDBITE (English), Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), Rapporteur, We call upon the Commission to elaborate whether we can have a possibility of mutual recognition of artists across Europe, which is not a fact nowadays. And I even ask for an eventual European framework of as far as the statues of an artist so that also the circulation of artists is is facilitated.

SOUNDBITE (English), Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), Rapporteur, Often artists, they have the talent, but they lack the skills in order to transform their creativity into a reliable source of income. That's why I ask for access to training and entrepreneurial skills so that they can have an an enterprise and a real working enterprise and a reliable source of income.

SOUNDBITE (English), Monica SEMEDO (Renew, LU), Rapporteur, One important point of this resolution is that we ask the Commission and the member states to better protect artists against political repression and all forms of discrimination. This is very important because the freedom of artistic expression is one of the core values of the EU and must continue to be guaranteed.

Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), EP Vice-President announcing the vote result: 543 votes in favour, 50 against and107 abstentions.