MEPs call for sharper focus on jobs and growth potential of cultural industries 28-01-2008 Cultural industries account for 2,6 % of the EU GDP (2003) and over five
million Europeans worked in the sector in 2004. The cultural sector is growing
faster than others, and thus has an important role in attaining the Lisbon
strategy growth and jobs targets. On January 22, an own-initiative report by MEP
Guy Bono , on the cultural industries' potential to contribute to the Lisbon
growth and jobs strategy was adopted. The report calls for the creation of a new
task force on Culture and the creative economy, a programme to support the
culture industries, less VAT and a sharper focus on training and mobility. It
also welcomes the readiness of the Commission and Council to acknowledge the
central role of culture and creativity in promoting European citizenship and
bringing the arts closer to the European public.
In the report, MEPs make concrete proposals to the Commission and Member
States, including setting up a task force on culture and the creative economy to
look more closely into the relationship between culture, creativity and
innovation in the EU policies.
They stress that adequate funding for the creative industries and communities
is essential, and recommend mixed methods of funding and promoting a regulatory
and fiscal framework that favours the cultural industries, specifically tax
credits and reduced rates of VAT for all cultural products, including on-line
works.
MEPs also ask the Commission to consider setting up a MEDIA- like programme
that could support digital libraries, music, theatre and publishing, as well as
the transnational distribution of works.
MEPs urge the Commission to rethink the issue of intellectual property in
order to assure solutions that are equitable for both big and small actors and
strike a balance between the respect of intellectual property and the access to
cultural events and content. The committee underlines that on the battle against
digital piracy, the solution should not be to criminalise consumers who do not
intend to make profit out of their actions. Furthermore, MEPs suggest campaigns
to educate consumers and raise awareness of their responsibilities.
The Committee also highlights the importance of cross-border mobility,
especially for artists, and the need for better statistics to enable countries
to learn from each other and formulate policies. MEPs stress the need to improve
qualifications, apprenticeship and training systems, and provide students in the
arts with training that will better prepare them better for professional life
and encourage synergies between businesses and schools.
Finally, the committee suggests that culture should be better integrated in
the Union's external policies.
Source:
European
Parliament
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