The impact of COVID-19 on the culture industry

Subject: The impact of COVID-19 on the culture industry

The cultural and creative industries play a fundamental role, not only for leisure, but for the education of citizens.

This sector is one of those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic that is ravaging Europe and the rest of the world, with the necessary containment measures leading to the cancellation of festivals and concerts, as well as the suspension of the activities of cinemas, clubs and theatres and other venues.

What is involved here is not only the economic and financial impact on these industries, which cannot recover investments already made in their activities and planning, but also the social impact on art and culture professionals, who are out of work, many of them already in desperate need.

1. What short and long-term measures does the Commission intend to take to mitigate the effects on this sector?

2. What funds is the Commission considering allocating to the cultural and creative industries (in addition to the Creative Europe Programme)? Does the Commission intend to create a solidarity fund complementary to national support from Member States?

3. How does the Commission intend to ensure that the measures taken do not jeopardise the Community ‘acquis’ of consumer protection legislation?

Supporter1

1 This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Paulo Rangel (PPE)

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(22 July 2020)

The Commission is applying maximum flexibility to projects funded under the Creative Europe programm e (2), within the limits of the applicable legal framework. Special measures to support cinemas, the performing arts and the book sector are foreseen. The Commission, together with the European Investment Fund, is enhancing the Cultural and Creative Sectors Guarantee Facility to facilitate access to credits. The Music Moves Europe Preparatory Action (3) will support the music sector in the recovery phase. The Commission has also launched two platforms, one for Member States to exchange on measures taken, and one for and by culture organisations to ensure a constant dialogue.

The Commission has put forward Next Generation EU and a revamped multiannual financial framework. Several instruments of this package can support the cultural and creative sectors: 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 Instrumen t (7), the reinforced InvestEU (8) and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (9). In immediate response to the crisis, the Commission also put forward the Corona Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and CRII+ (10), the temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) (11), and adopted the Temporary Framework for State Aid (12) to support the economy. Member States can use these instruments also for the cultural and creative sectors.

⋅1∙ This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Paulo Rangel (PPE)

⋅2∙ 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. ⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/music-moves-europe_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.

⋅10∙ 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). ⋅11∙ 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.

⋅12∙ Communication from the Commission Temporary Framework for state aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 outbreak.
























| | )EU consumer law does not regulate the cancellation of events. Consumer rights depend on national contract law and the type and terms of the contract. However, according to the Unfair Contract Terms Directive (13), contract terms used by traders have to be transparent and may not unfairly limit the rights of consumers.

⋅13∙ Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts. | | ( | | )