Support to the EU cultural sector during the COVID-19 pandemic

One of the most affected sectors

MEPs underlined the special nature of the creative sector and the difficulties faced by artists and called on the EU to provide support, in a resolution adopted on 17 April 2020.

The pandemic has affected everyone and many sectors of the economy are struggling, but the cultural sector is one of the most affected. Events across Europe have been cancelled, festivals, conferences, exhibitions have been postponed, cinemas, theatres and museums have been closed, film and television productions have been suspended, leaving artists without a livelihood.

Many Member States have introduced measures specifically aimed at helping workers in the cultural sector and Europe’s culture ministers discussed support measures for the cultural and creative sector during the coronavirus crisis at a meeting on 8 April 2020.

The EU is making progress to protect jobs, but the specificity of the cultural sector makes it difficult for its workers to receive support: there are many individual artists, small businesses and charities. That is why Parliament’s culture committee wants the EU to set up specific aid to help the sector overcome the crisis.

Support to culture

In a letter to Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel, MEPs suggest

• protecting artists who may not qualify for national support schemes through the “Creative Europe” programme.
• increase the EU funds available to “Creative Europe” to ensure that they reach the sector.
• create an ad hoc financial instrument under the European Investment Fund to channel funds to the sector.

More must be done at EU level to provide personalised support to workers in the cultural sector until things get back to normal, said the Chair of Parliament’s Culture Committee, German MEP Sabine Verheyen of the European People’s Party.

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