BETA

Activities of Alexis GEORGOULIS related to 2020/2261(INI)

Plenary speeches (1)

The situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU (debate)
2021/10/18
Dossiers: 2020/2261(INI)

Shadow reports (1)

REPORT on the situation of artists and the cultural recovery in the EU
2021/10/13
Committee: CULT
Dossiers: 2020/2261(INI)
Documents: PDF(188 KB) DOC(68 KB)
Authors: [{'name': 'Monica SEMEDO', 'mepid': 197418}]

Amendments (63)

Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
B. whereas the CCSI mainly comprise micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and self-employed entrepreneuorganisations, as well as self-employed workers and freelancers, who often draw on irregular and mixed incomes from different sources;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 25 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
C. whereas the containment measures taken by the Member States affected the CCSI more than any other sector; whereas the CCSI experienced losses in turnover of over 30 % for 2020 – a cumulative loss of EUR 199 billion – with the music and performing arts sectors experiencing losses of 75 % and 90 % respectively8 ; _________________ 8Ernst & Young, Rebuilding Europe: The cultural and creative economy before and after the COVID-19 crisis, January 2021.
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
D. whereas culture is an ecosystem that not only generates high economic value (representing 4.4 % of EU GDP in terms of total turnover and employing around 7.6 million people), but also has a substantial social impact, contributing to democratic, sustainable, free, fair and inclusive societies and reflecting and strengthening our European diversity, values, history, and freedoms and way of life;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
E. whereas the development of thea multidimensional European framework for working conditions in the CCSI will require coordination with EU policies on competition, the internal market, social policy, fundamental rights and equality, and copyright and funding for culture, as well as monitoring the progress of Member States on improving working conditions in the CCS and sharing best practices;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
F. whereas since Parliament’s call for improvements to the situation of artists in its resolution of June 2007, no progress has been made and, moreover, the situation has aggravated and thus most of its demands remain validhave become urgent;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
F a. whereas the measures taken by Members States to support CCS in the face of the pandemic vary greatly, and thus the gaps between the situations of artists and cultural and creative workers in different Member States have considerably increased;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 40 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G
G. whereas the COVID-19 crisis has made artists and cultural and creative professionalworkers even more vulnerable, as the loss of earnings for freelancers and non- standard workers, who make up the majority of the CCSI, has been exacerbated by weak or absent national social security schemes and dedicated support measures;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 46 #
H. whereas the ongoing impact of the pandemic has made it impossible for artists and cultural and creative workers to carry out their jobs andactivities and to keep their jobs, while it generated uncertainty over future prospects that could cause professionals to leave the sector, which will have a long- lasting effect on the composition and diversity of the European CCSI as a whole and discourage young people as well as people from vulnerable backgrounds from working in these industriesectors;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I
I. whereas most of the Member States enacted substantial emergency measures to help the CCSI to survive the crisis; whereas, however, this support was not available to some artists on account of their particularlways suitable for all CCS, or even not accessible at all to the most financially vulnerable artists, cultural and creative workers and freelancers on account of their particular, non-standard, seasonal and precarious working status and was inot sufficient to ensure sustainable working conditions;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital I a (new)
I a. whereas cross-border mobility remains an essential component of artists and cultural workers’ careers; however, most of the current funding instruments supporting mobility are not sufficiently adapted to the specific features of the sectors, such as seasonality and bureaucratic obstacles regarding mutual recognition of artistic education among Member States;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K
K. whereas several Member States have specific legislation in place providing a special status for artists to guarantee them access to social benefits; whereas, however, this legislation varies considerably between the Member States, which can hinder the mutual recognition of the status of artists and cross-border collaboration and moultural and creative workers, including technicians, backstage and other staff, cross-border collaboration and mobility, and ultimately European cultural diversity and social sustainability;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital K a (new)
K a. whereas funding support for CCS varies greatly between Member States, in terms of budgets’ size, guiding priorities and transparency levels, which hinders inclusivity, sustainability and balance of cross-border collaboration and mobility;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 69 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital L
L. whereas artists tend to haveand cultural and creative workers tend to have seasonal, non-standard and overall atypical work patterns and often lack proper social security protection, notably in cross-border contexts, which often leads to their exclusion from pension, health protection and unemployment payments;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M
M. whereas artists and cultural and creative workers’ remuneration often comes from different sources such as contracts, royalties, grants and subsidies, which renders their income highly unpredictable, leaves them in precarious situations and weakens their resilience;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital M a (new)
M a. whereas artists and cultural and creative workers from vulnerable groups such as women, young people, people with disabilities, representatives of LGBTQIIA+ and people with vulnerable socio-economic background, have lesser access to artistic and cultural careers and are hit the hardest by the consequences of the pandemic and any crisis;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital N
N. whereas the lack of collective bargaining for self-employed artistsartists and cultural and creative workers, including technicians, backstage and other staff, further serves to undermine their position on the labour market and leads to a lack of adequate social protections;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 87 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital O
O. whereas cross-border mobility is an essential part of an artist and cultural and creative workerss work but is often hampered by bureaucratic procedures, a lack of clear information and myriad administrative rules and requirements across the Member States, notably as regards social protection and taxation, taxation, as well as complicated and expensive procedures for the specific transportation needs for artistic fragile equipment;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 93 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital P
P. whereas public grants are considered the most vital and effective form of financial support for some of the CCSI, but are often difficult to accessovercomplicated and too difficult to access for those who need them the most;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q
Q. whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted artists’ and cultural and creative workers’ dependence on short- term financial support and lack of long- term safety nets specifically designed for the CCS, highlighting the need for continuous public and private financial support;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital Q a (new)
Q a. Whereas, in light of the consequences of the pandemic, a whole generation of young artists and cultural and creative workers are struggling to develop as members of our societies, due to the obstacles for enrolling in higher art education and entering cultural employment;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital R
R. whereas access to finance remains the main challenge for individual artists, cultural and creative workers, micro, small and medium-sized organisations, as well as self-employed workers and freelancers, who are often ineligible for loans and bank guarantees and are highly dependent on public and private grants and subsidies;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S
S. whereas many of the private investors have scaled back their financial support for cultural projectsand public funders have scaled back or completely cancelled their financial support for cultural projects, especially those with cross-border dimension, during the crisis;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital S b (new)
S b. Whereas culture, arts, cultural heritage, and cultural diversity are of great value to European society from a cultural, educational, democratic, environmental, social, human rights and economic point of view and should be promoted and supported. Whereas Education and culture are key to building inclusive and cohesive societies for all, fostering integration, and sustaining European competitiveness;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital T
T. whereas freedom of expression and freedom of the arts, as enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, are sometimes hindered by the use of antiterrorism legislation or allegations that artistic works insult religious feelings or national symbols, also resulting in cases of (self-)censorship, as well as in criminal prosecutions of artists, thus criminalizing artistic and cultural creation; notes that strong advertising pressure is also retaining artistic freedom;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 127 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
1. Urges the Commission and the Member States to recognise the fundamental role of culture for society, the well-being of EU citizenspeople and the economy, and to translate this recognition into continuous financial and structural support;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to recognise the European added value of cross-border cooperation and to eliminate barriers to cross-border mobility insustainable, balanced and inclusive cross-border mobility in the EU, with a special focus on sustainability, better coordination, fostering mutual recognition of artistic education and training skills among Member states, promoting the elimination of bureaucratic barriers and further provision of financial motivation with EU funding, while taking under consideration the specific features of the CCS such as seasonality, uncertainty of income of cultural events and the need for cultural agents to organize in advance touring locations, as well as including as eligible third countries with possible agreements with the EU;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
3. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to provide workers in the CCSI with clear information and guidelines on mobility opportunities and administrative requirements in all Member States, including on visas, taxation, social security and access to training, health insurance, funding opportunities, access to training and recognition of artistic education degrees;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the establishment of mobility information points to provide assistance to artists and support sustainable mobility; and recommends that all Member States establish oneat least one to offer free and tailored support to artists and cultural and creative workers;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
4 d. Encourages greater synergy between the cultural and educational sector and promotes greater participation of artistic and cultural schools and institutions in activities under Erasmus+, and in other actions under EU programmes, both for students and teachers;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
5. Calls on theUrges Member States to transposcomplete by all means as soon as possible the transposition of the Directive (EU) 2019/790 on copyright in the digital single market and, in particular, to guarantee fairappropriate and proportionate remuneration for authors and performers, as well as of the Directive (EU) 2019/789 for the online distribution of television and radio programmes; calls on the Members States to set transparent public consultation procedures in order to actively involve the civil society and representing organizations of artists during these transposition processes;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Regrets that the national transposition of Directives2019/790 and 2019/789 are rather delayed, while only a few Member States seize the Article 18 opportunity to implement appropriate remuneration mechanisms; urges Members States to translate Article 18 of the 2019/790 Directive into effective remuneration mechanisms;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 165 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Highlights the need for transparency on behalf of online platforms so that they provide to Collective Management Organizations at least the minimum of information they need in order to effectively ensure authors’ fair remuneration;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 168 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 c (new)
5 c. Calls on Member States and the Commission to ensure the payment of a fee or in form of taxation by platforms in order to remunerate authors and performers as well as to establish further regular funding sources the CCS;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to apply best practices in order to ensure fair and proportionate remuneration to authors and performers; suggests for the provision of legislation which would provide for an unwaivable and untransferable right to remuneration paid by the users and collectively managed; highlights the need to make intellectual property rights and their practical implementation implications an explicit and integral part of a European framework for working conditions and employment in the CCS;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Recognises the crucial role of culture and arts in promoting cultural diversity and fostering inclusive societies and the fight against any kind of discrimination;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 174 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes the Commission’s inception impact assessment and ongoing public consultation on collective bargaining agreements, which is designed to define the scope of application of EU competition rules in order to remove obstacles and, improve working conditions and guarantee minimum standards in terms of income, social security, pension and health insurance access through collective bargaining on behalf of solo artists, self- employed workers and freelancers in the CCSI;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Calls on Member States and the Commission for the promotion of collective bargaining with transparent and open public consultation procedures and regrets that contractual freedom often leaves cultural creators in a weak and isolated position when negotiating their contracts with producers;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
7. Underlines the urgent need to improve the working conditions in the CCSI; encourages the Member States to utilise upward convergence to establish minimum standards for artists and cultural workers in relation to working conditions and social securand creative workers, including technicians,backstage workers and other staff, in relation to working conditions, income, social security, pension and health insurance, while taking under consideration the special characteristics of the CCS such as seasonal work and the non-monetized quality of creativity;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
8. RecommeUrges Member States ands the creation ofEuropean Commission to create a European framework for working conditions in the CCSI that sets minimum standards common to all EU countries; welcomes, in this regard, the forthcoming OMC discussions between the Member States on the status of artists;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 190 #
8 a. Calls on Member States and the Commission to establish a code-of- conduct or some kind of artistic procedures’ certifications in order to safeguard, at a European-level, Occupational Safety and Health against sexual and any other harassment, violence, bullying or any other forms of abuse, in the CCS and regarding cultural production and performance, including artistic training and education, since according to the study: “When combined with hierarchies and power relations, gender inequality often takes the shape of sexism and sexual harassment in the cultural and creative sectors, where it seems to be more prevalent than in other economic sectors”;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 196 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Calls on Member States and the Commission to support vocational training programmes and initiatives for the career development of all authors, performers and cultural creators, and in particular to support them in acquiring digital, entrepreneurial and other skills in order benefit from digital opportunities to promote their work and collaborate with other artists;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9 a. Recommends an increased and consistent information on sustainable mobility through policies such as updated toolkits, handbooks and guidelines, as well as the revision of existing ones;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 b (new)
9 b. Urges Member States and the Commission for social protection systems that allow equal access for artists and cultural and creative workers as for all other citizens to benefit schemes such as unemployment allowance and pensions, taking under consideration the specific characteristics of their work and of the CCS such as seasonality, the non- standard nature of employment, the non- monetized value of creativity, the recognition of rehearsals and the hours of crafting, painting or any hours of artistic work as working hours officially recognized in terms of remuneration, social security and health insurance benefits; urges Member States and the Commission to take specific measures for the different categories of the creative professions to tackle unstable income, unpaid work and job insecurity and safeguard a total minimum standard for their income;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
10. Urges the Member States to fulfil their obligation to defend and respect artistic freedom in order to uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression and ensure that EU citizens can freely enjoy and consume artistic creationsenjoy free access to and participation in culture; invites the European Commission to develop further research on the topic and prepare a roadmap for achieving better protection of freedom of artistic expression in Europe;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Calls on the Commission to map existing definitions across Member States of artists and cultural and creative workers, including technicians, backstage and other staff, and to foster dialogue with the Civil Society in order to come up with one single and inclusive wording in the EU’s policy-making and in the European framework for working conditions in the CCS; suggests for a definition that would reflect the diversity of the CCS as well as the civil society’s self-definition, through a process-oriented approach, such as by recognising the labour intensity of the creative process, including research and preparation; also, this definition should be aligned with the 1980 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of the Artists;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10 b. Recommends the equal recognition of the multiple forms of artistic and cultural and creative work, including the activities that are not (or barely) monetised, among others;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Member States to fully include access to art education as part of a holistic approach for the CCS recovery;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 217 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to broaden employment opportunities for artists and arts experts by mainstreaming the teaching of arts in the curricula of schooling education, which would further contribute in development of fantasy, innovation and creativity for the citizens of tomorrow, while cultivating audiences to appreciate culture and strengthening social cohesion;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 219 #
11 c. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to foster the green and the digital transition, innovation and creativity, research and development as well as employment opportunities for artists by supporting cooperation across disciplinary domains, such as between the CCS and science and technology;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the Member States to encourage and promote private investment in the CCSI, as well as public-private partnerships, by providing financial motivation, such as through reduced VAT rates, tax reductions and overall fiscal or other measures and tools;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 232 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
13. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to update and adapt the funding envelopes for culture and to facilitate access to public grants and loans by reducing administrative burdens and ensure transparency at all stages of the application and reporting processes;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 234 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to dedicate sector-specific funding covering all different art forms as well as innovative – experimental combinations among art forms, targeted not only to legal entities but also to individuals and also, boosting transnational cooperation;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 b (new)
13 b. Calls on the Commission and Member States to generate new and innovative ways to support the CCS in the long-term by providing resources and infrastructure; suggests for example the granting for free to artists and players of the CCS public spaces and buildings to display their work or to be used as working spaces for workshop-seminars- rehearsal spaces throughout the year or for certain time periods;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
14. Reiterates its call on the Commission and the Member States to include culture in the national recovery and resilience plans and to earmark at least 2 % of the budget envelope of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to culture with concrete, inclusive and accessible to all measures, leaving no one behind;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 245 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
15. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to support the short-term and the long-term recovery of the CCSI and to bolster their resilience and competitiveness of these industries in the long termin the long term, by ensuring comprehensive monitoring of the socio-economic situation in the CCS, providing fair and structured support to all CCS and value-chain players, as well as by establishing a European Framework for working conditions in the CCS, in order to tackle any major crises as effectively and as pro-actively as possible in the future;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 251 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Highlights the vital importance of culture and the CCS for the digital and the green transition, as well as for the promotion of any societal change, innovation and progress and calls on Member States and the Commission for the inclusion of the CCS in all relevant funding schemes;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15 a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to create new funding programmes to support sustainable, balanced and inclusive mobility and cross-border cooperation, as well as innovate existing funding instruments in this direction;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 257 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls on the Member States to provide the CCS with clear guidelines along with support measures regarding their re-opening, tailored to the different features of each specific sector of the CCS; include compensation schemes of the CCS stakeholders for the empty seats or for possible last-minute cancellations of cultural events, because of the COVID- 19 hygiene measures; include communication campaigns and tools to de-stigmatize the CCS from the blame and fear of being COVID-19 triggers and spread the message to the audiences that the CCS equally ensure the thorough implementation of the perspective hygiene protocols and thus are as safe as all sectors of the economy;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Calls on the Commission for continuous monitoring of the CCS with regular studies on the Situation of the Artists in order to have accurate, reliable, updated and sector-specific data at a European level in order to design solid policy making, as well as have a better mapping of the CCS and be better prepared in case of future crises;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 260 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15 b. Welcomes that during the crisis many cultural ecosystems of workers and organisations adapted to new digital distribution formats showing innovative ways of reaching their audience, nevertheless, digital engagement should not replace cultural experiences in person;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15 c. Calls on Member States and the Commission to take measures to promote gender equality in the CCS, in order to tackle obstacles in terms of access, equal payment, representation and visibility, with concrete measures such as concretely supporting more women in decision- making positions;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 263 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 d (new)
15 d. Calls on the Member States and the Commission to take measures to tackle inequalities and increased risk of exclusion in the CCS such as exclusion related to gender, disabilities, ageism, racism and xenophobia, while promoting cultural diversity to tackle the appearing trend towards digital homogeneity;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 e (new)
15 e. Highlights that the CCS are the first sectors and most severely hit by the pandemic and the last to recover, while given the restrictions in capacity of cultural events and venues due to the hygiene protocols, the recovery for the CCS is expected to be even slower; reiterates that the CCS have a direct and indirect link, contribution and important impact to other sectors of the economy as well as to local communities and calls on Member States and the Commission to take measures to further support the CCS, proportionally equal to other sectors such as tourism, which was found to be less hit by COVID-19;
2021/06/10
Committee: CULT