The Council of the European Union,
RECALLING
- The need, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, for unprecedented efforts towards greater resilience and transformation in the EU, as stated in the conclusions adopted by the European Council at the special meeting of 17-21 July 20201.
- The determination to take decisive policy actions promptly in order to support the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) in times of crisis and beyond, as expressed by EU Ministers for Culture, Media and Audiovisual at their three informal videoconferences under the Croatian and German Presidencies.
- The number of extraordinary measures aimed at supporting the CCS put in place by the European Union and its Member States since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The importance of the European Pillar of Social Rights in ensuring that no one is left behind either in the recovery process or the digital and green transitions.
- The political agreement on the Creative Europe programme for 2021-2027 with an increased budget in the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
- The adoption by the European Commission of an action plan to support the recovery and transformation of the media and audiovisual sector.
IMPROVE ACCESS TO AVAILABLE FUNDING
- Take advantage of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to enable recovery from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to make the CCS more resilient to future crises by addressing the structural challenges faced by the CCS and, where relevant, implementing appropriate and efficient support schemes.
Invites the Commission to:
- Provide a common ‘one-stop shop’ tool for relevant, regularly updated, easy-to-understand, easily accessible and tailored information in all official EU languages on funding opportunities for the CCS, thus allowing all cultural players to swiftly access information on relevant EU funding programmes.
ENHANCE THE RESILIENCE OF CCS PROFESSIONALS
Invites the Member States to:
- Promote, within the appropriate frameworks, the further development of a fair and sustainable labour market, including social protection for CCS professionals, that takes into account the characteristics of cultural and creative activities, in close dialogue with the sectors.
- Promote an ongoing dialogue and exchange with CCS professionals, encouraging them to notify problems at an early stage and share solutions found.
Invites the Member States and the Commission to:
- Promote the further development of new business models by the CCS, for example by harnessing the potential of data, that respond to economic, digital, societal and environmental challenges.
- Promote training opportunities that build capacity in entrepreneurial, digital, financial and management skills, intellectual property, as well as the overall resilience of CCS professionals.
- Encourage the exploration of new ways and means of securing artists’ income, discussing the status of artists and exchanging ideas on working conditions in the cultural and creative sectors and industries in Europe through the group on the status and working conditions of artists and cultural and creative professionals, due to be set up under the open method of coordination.
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