Supporting the cultural and creative sector of the economy

Subject: Supporting the cultural and creative sector of the economy

The creative and cultural sector of the economy is considered one of the most precarious in terms of employment, partly because of job insecurity and working conditions with low and insecure wages, but also because of the seasonal and non-permanent nature of work.

It is an economic sector that has been hard hit by the effects of the measures taken to contain COVID-19. The public's fear of gatherings and the subsequent ban of such gatherings has led to the closure of theatres, cinemas and other cultural venues. Under these circumstances, cultural enterprises, artists and other employees of the entertainment business have been driven to despair, since all their sources of income, as well as their access to medical care and social security, are shrouded in uncertainty.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

1. What measures will it take to strengthen the creative and cultural sector of the economy in view of the consequences of COVID-19?

2. Will the creative and cultural sectors be included in the emergency financial aid plan? If so, how?

3. Will it consider expanding the budget for the heading ‘Cohesion and Values’ in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)?

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(16 July 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. The Commission proposes to support the cultural and creative sectors via several instruments.

Further to the future Creative Europe (1), Horizon Europe (2) and the Digital Europe programmes (3), the Commission proposes support across economic sectors, including the culture and creative ones, from the future cohesion policy funds, REACT-E U (4) and the new Solvency Support Instrument (5); the last two will be available already in 2020.

The proposed reinforced InvestEU fund (6) should be able to support these sectors under several of its windows and Member States could support the sectors via the Recovery and Resilience Facility (7), on the basis of reform and investment plans to be agreed with the Commission.

The Commission also put forward two Coronavirus Response Investment Initiatives (CRII and CRII plus) (8) and the temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) (9), which have meanwhile been adopted, and adopted the Temporary Framework for state aid measures (10) to support the economy. The Commission encourages Member States to seize the opportunities offered by those instruments for the cultural and creative sectors.

Moreover, the Commission is working with the European Investment Fund to increase the rate of guarantee of the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility.

⋅1∙ 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

⋅2∙ 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

⋅3∙ 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

⋅4∙ 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

⋅5∙ 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

⋅6∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the InvestEU Programme COM/2020/403

⋅7∙ Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Recovery and Resilience Facility COM/2020/408

⋅8∙ 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) ⋅9∙ 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

⋅10∙ 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




















| | )A summary list of the measures the Commission has taken to tackle the consequences of the novel coronavirus outbreak on the cultural and creative sectors can be found on its website (11).

⋅11∙ https://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/coronavirus-how-eu-responds-outbreak-support-cultural-and-creative-sectors_en | | ( | | )