Measures to support cultural creators across Europe in order to address the negative effects of the pandemic

Subject: Measures to support cultural creators across Europe in order to address the negative effects of the pandemic

The public health measures imposed to slow down the spread of the virus have had an unprecedented negative impact on creators of cultural values and players in the production of cultural goods throughout Europe, including Cyprus.

Will the Commission say what measures it will take to ensure:

1. that Member States provide access for creators of cultural values and players in the production of cultural goods whose livelihoods are threatened to: (a) funds under the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative which has been announced, and (b) financial support as part of measures to extend the scope of the Provisional Framework for State aid;

2. (a) the immediate payment of the remaining sums of grants under cultural programmes that are already being implemented, (b) the acceleration/activation of programmes that, although approved, have been delayed due to the pandemic, and (c) the drawing up of new programmes for the financial support/ encouragement of Digital Culture activities;

3. a significant strengthening of the funding programme for culture in the period 2021-2027 as well as the creation, at the end of the pandemic, of an adequate financial incentive package for cultural creators across Europe, in order to address the long-term consequences of the pandemic (e.g. further measures to facilitate the mobility of artists and their works)?

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(6 August 2020)

The Commission has put forward the Corona Response Investment Initiatives (CRII and CRII+) (1) and the temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) (2), which have already been adopted. The Commission has adopted the Temporary Framework for State Aid measures to support the economy (3). It encourages the Member States to use these instruments also for the cultural and creative sectors as described on a dedicated webpage (4).

The Commission is applying maximum flexibility in the implementation of the Creative Europe programme, within the limits of the applicable legal framework (5). Beneficiaries can adapt their activities and cover additional costs. The Commission is planning to publish a call to support cross-border distribution of performing art works. Special measures, for example vouchers, will support cinemas.

The Commission, together with the European Investment Fund, is enhancing the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility to allow, inter alia, for more flexibility in repayments of loans. The Commission supported the creation of a platform for and by culture organisations to ensure a constant dialogue (6).

Support from REACT EU and the new Solvency Support Instrument should, if the Commission proposals are adopted this year, which is the scenario the Commission is aiming at, be available in 2020. Substantial opportunities will be available for the cultural and creative sectors under the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

⋅1∙ Regulation (EU) 2020/460 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 March 2020 amending Regulations (EU) No 1301/2013, (EU) No 1303/2013 and

(EU) No 508/2014 as regards specific measures to mobilise investments in the healthcare systems of Member States and in other sectors of their economies in response to the COVID-19 outbreak (Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative) ⋅2∙ Council Regulation (EU) 2020/672 of 19 May 2020 on the establishment of a European instrument for temporary support to mitigate unemployment risks in an

emergency (SURE) following the COVID-19 outbreak, ST/7917/2020/INIT

⋅3∙ Communication from the Commission Temporary Framework for state aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak 2020/C 91

I/01 ⋅4∙

https://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/coronavirus-how-eu-responds-outbreak-support-cultural-and-creative-sectors_en ⋅5∙ Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014 to

2020) and repealing Decisions No 1718/2006/EC, No 1855/2006/EC and No 1041/2009/EC ⋅6∙ https://creativesunite.eu/












| | )In addition to the Creative Europe programme, support should be available also under Horizon Europ e (7), InvestEU (8), the Digital Europe Programme (9) and the future cohesion policy funds. Member States could support the sectors via the Recovery and Resilience Facility (10).

⋅7∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing Horizon Europe — the framework Programme for Research and Innovation,

laying down its rules for participation and dissemination COM/2018/435 ⋅8∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the InvestEU Programme COM/2018/439

⋅9∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Digital Europe programme for the period 2021-2027 COM/2018/434

⋅10∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility COM/2020/408