Protection of the crèche-makers of San Gregorio Armeno (Naples) – repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis

Subject: Protection of the crèche-makers of San Gregorio Armeno (Naples) – repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis

The crèche-makers based in San Gregorio Armeno in the centre of Naples are internationally renowned for their outstanding work. The district has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1995, and is a genuine open air museum visited at all times of the year and not just Christmas.

Besides being of incalculable historical and artistic value, the district is a major economic and employment node for the whole city and one of Europe’s most distinctive and authentic international tourist attractions.

Like all craftsmen during these times of crisis, crèche-makers have had to continue paying overheads despite fundamentally receiving no income.

They are seriously concerned that they will continue suffering the effects of the crisis even after the emergency measures taken to contain the outbreak are relaxed.

Indeed, in the short term a return to normal activities will not bring with it a major increase in revenue for such craftsmen owing the rules on social distancing and the need to avoid gatherings.

What tangible initiatives and monitoring will the Commission conduct on specific measures to support and protect these craftsmen and hence prevent the dissipation of a unique artistic asset and facet of European culture?

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(18 August 2020)

In an immediate response to the crisis, the Commission put forward the Corona Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and CRII+ (1) which will help to mitigate the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic, including by assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and vulnerable parts of the EU economies.

The Commission has also put forward the new instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) (2). Up to EUR 100 billion in the form of loans to the Member States can be mobilised to protect employees and the self- employed against the risk of unemployment and loss of income. Member States can use these instruments also for the cultural and creative sectors. (3)

The Campania Region intends to use the CRII and CRII+ initiatives to provide support to the enterprises affected by the COVID-19 outbreak by allowing liquidity injections through grants to the working capital of enterprises.

In May 2020, the Commission proposed a major recovery plan and a revised Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 to bring the EU economy back on track. In this context, the Commission proposes to support the cultural and creative sectors via several instruments: Horizon Europe, the Creative Europe programme (4), the Digital Europe programme (5), REACT-EU (6) and the future cohesion policy funds, the new Solvency Support Instrument (7), the reinforced InvestEU (8) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (9).

⋅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

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/health/coronavirus-response/jobs-and-economy-during-coronavirus-pandemic_en

⋅4∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Creative Europe programme (2021 to 2027) and repealing Regulation (EU)

No 1295/2013, COM/2018/366 final

⋅5∙ 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

⋅6∙ Proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 as regards exceptional additional resources and implementing arrangements under the

Investment for growth and jobs goal to provide assistance for fostering crisis repair in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and preparing a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy (REACT-EU) COM/2020/451

⋅7∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2015/1017 as regards creation of a Solvency Support Instrument

COM/2020/404

⋅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 a Recovery and Resilience Facility COM/2020/408


















| | )Furthermore, in the context of the Council Work Plan for Culture 2019-2022 (10), the Commission works with Member States regarding the status and working conditions of artists and cultural professionals. A study on this topic is being finalised and an EU Member States’ expert group, facilitated by the Commission, is due to start in 2021.

⋅10∙ http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-13948-2018-INIT/en/pdf | | ( | | )