Yesterday, Commissioner Micallef called for co-legislators’ support on the Culture Compass, prioritising the EU Artist Charter for fair working conditions in the CCS. AI threats, AgoraEU, funding for music, cultural data and culture and mental health, among the highlights discussed with MEPs of the Cult Committee.
By Eirini PolydorouYesterday, Commissioner Micallef participated in the proceedings of the Cult Committee of the European Parliament to present the Culture Compass.
Following questions by Cult Committee’s MEPs, he referred to working conditions as one of his top priorities in the Compass and asked for co-legislators’ support.
“We are proposing the EU Artist Charter to help us make a strong political commitment to ensure fair working conditions for people in the cultural sector,” he said.
“More importantly, and this was one of the commitments I made in this Committee in my confirmation hearing, we are also making funding in AgoraEU conditional to proper working conditions for artists,” he continued.
“This is one of the ways we make conditionalities, around the use of European Union funding in cultural projects. I really count on the support of this house to have strong political commitments in this area.” he concluded.
His statements raise expectations ahead of the Roundtable on Artists Working Conditions, scheduled for the 8th of December. He commented that the Roundtable would serve on further exploring how the Commission could support member states in these efforts.
Such supporting initiatives inlcude facilitating exchange of best practices, or providing training for national authorities in detecting for example undeclared work in the CCS, which was one of the main recommendations of the OMC experts group that we had on working conditions in the sector.
With an overall view to strengthen political commitment on the Culture Compass, the Commissioner referred to his close collaboration with the Cypriot Presidency for the Joint Declaration Europe for Culture - Culture for Europe to be adopted as soon as possible.
Highlights of the discussion included AgoraEU funding, AI threats on creators, Music Moves Europe, cultural data and culture for health and wellbeing.
Co-legislators to ensure AgoraEU as the main but not the only possibility for funding culture
Commissioner Micallef underscored that AgoraEU is going to be the main programme for funding for culture, but not the only one.
He referred to specific provisions in the legal texts of other funding instruments, including the National Regional Partnership Plans proposal, where the cultural sector is clearly referred to by name and repeated his call on co-legislators to ensure that member states are enabled to invest in the CCS.
Music Moves Europe will continue as a main programme
The Commissioner stated that "Music Moves Europe will continue to be one of the main programmes through which we support emerging artists to reach wider audiences".
"In Creative Europe now around 25% of all funding is going to the Music Sector and we hope we continue this support in the next MFF in AgoraEU", he added.
A report is expected on the Discoverability of European music.
We need an AI Strategy for the CCS
Regarding Artificial Intelligence, the Commissioner underscored the need to be forward looking, as AI presents immense opportunities but only if conditions are met.
“We have a solid foundation for copyright regulation, such as in the DSA. I believe we need to specify further with an AI Strategy for the CCS,” he said and brought the example of the booksector, being alarmed by authors publishing one book per day.
He discussed supporting innovation and collaboration between techs and the CCS and reiterated as the most important condition that “rightsholders remain in control of their work.
Data for Culture a priority
Starting from a Eurobarometer and working on building stronger EU data for culture, the Commissioner highlighted among his priorities his efforts for an EU Culture Data hub.
Culture and Mental Health
“It is not a priority anymore. It is an emergency,” said the Commissioner, “especially for young people”.
He expressed his vision for the EU already becoming a leader in the area of culture and mental health, such as by EU-funded culture prescription schemes.
He introduced his intention to draft guidelines for member states on culture and mental health and wellbeing.
Chaired by Nela RIEHL (Greens - Germany), yesterday’s ordinary meeting of the European Parliament’s Cult Committee included in the agenda the presentation of the Culture Compass by Commissioner Glenn Micallef.
MEPs of the Cult Committee taking the floor to exchange views and ask questions included: Zoltán TARR (EPP - Hungary), Hannes HEIDE (S&D - Austria), Lara MAGONI (ECR - Italy), Laurence FARRENG (Renew - France), Diana RIBA I GINER (Greens - Spain), Bogdan Andrzej ZDROJEWSKI (EPP - Poland), Emma RAFOWICZ (S&D - France), Giusi PRINCI (EPP - Italy), Marcos ROS SEMPERE (S&D - Spain), Ivaylo VALCHEV (ECR - Bulgaria), Nikola MINCHEV (Renew - Bulgaria), Francisco José MILLÁN MON (EPP - Spain).
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