PURPOSE: to include the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) in the Creative Europe programme.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2018/596 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014 to 2020).

CONTENT: this amending Regulation will provide for continuing financing of the European Union Youth Orchestra as part of th e Creative Europe programme until the end of the latter on 31 December 2020.

The particularity of the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) lies in the fact that it is a European orchestra that transcends cultural boundaries and is composed of young musicians selected in accordance with demanding quality criteria through a rigorous annual audition process in all Member States. It is the only orchestra in the Union that recruits from all Member States.

The EUYO will be among the measures benefitting from support from both the Culture Sub-programme and the Cross-sectoral strand of the Creative Europe programme. Grants will contribute to the costs related to the activities of the European Union Youth Orchestra that contribute to the mobility of musicians , the circulation of European works across borders and to the internationalisation of the careers of young musicians.

The EUYO's activities should be in line with the objectives of the Creative Europe Programme, in particular its objective of supporting audience development, and with the priorities of the Culture Sub-programme.

The amending Regulation specifies that the EUYO should continuously diversify its revenues by actively seeking financial support from sources other than Union funding in order to guarantee its sustainability and with a view to reducing its dependence on Union funding. The EUYO should therefore ensure cost efficiency in its management. It should also:

actively engage in audience development , paying particular attention to young people. seek to increase its visibility, including in both traditional and digital media, and to perform at European events and across more Member States. in collaboration with its national associate partners, increase awareness of annual auditions with a view to achieving a more balanced representation of musicians from all Member States within the orchestra.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 13.5.2018.

APPLICATION: from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2020.

The European Parliament adopted by 541 votes to 89, with 24 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the creative Europe programme (2014 to 2020).

As a reminder, the proposal aims to include a reference to the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) in Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the creative Europe programme (2014 to 2020) to support for the European cultural and creative sectors.

The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows.

Members stated that the Culture Sub-programme shall provide support for costs related to the activities of the European Union Youth Orchestra that contribute to the mobility of musicians, the circulation of European works across borders and to the internationalisation of the careers of young musicians .

An amendments stressed that the EUYO is the only orchestra in the Union that recruits from all Member States . It provides regular training for young musicians through a residence programme and offers performance opportunities, thus reinforcing their international careers and developing their skills under the guidance of renowned conductors.

The contribution of the EUYO has been recognised by Member States and by Union institutions, including by successive Presidents of the Commission and of the European Parliament .

The amended text stipulated that the EUYO shall:

continuously diversify its revenues by actively seeking financial support from sources other than Union funding in order to guarantee its sustainability and with a view to reducing its dependence on Union funding; ensure cost efficiency in its management; seek to increase its visibility , including in both traditional and digital media, and to perform at European events and across more Member States; increase awareness of annual auditions with a view to achieving a more balanced representation of musicians from all Member States within the orchestra; actively engage in audience development , paying particular attention to young people.

The EUYO should be able to benefit from support as soon as possible, in particular for costs incurred in 2018 prior to the entry into force of this Regulation. This Regulation should therefore apply retroactively from 1 January 2018.

The Committee on Culture and Education adopted the report by Silvia COSTA (S&D, IT) on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the creative Europe programme (2014 to 2020).

As a reminder, the proposal aims to include a reference to the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) in Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 establishing the creative Europe programme (2014 to 2020) to support for the European cultural and creative sectors.

The committee recommended that the European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the Commission proposal as follows.

Members stated that the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) shall be is composed of young musicians selected in all Member States . They also considered that the EUYO should:

provide regular training for young musicians through a residence programme and offers performance opportunities in festivals and tours within the European Union and at an international level; seek financial support from sources other than Union funding , in order to guarantee its sustainability and gradual independence from Union funding; ensure cost-efficiency in its management; increase its visibility at European events and perform in more Member States, including in cooperation with audiovisual network; guarantee the transparency of the selection process and reinforce the visibility of annual auditions with a view to achieving a greater balance between the number of musicians from each Member State and the total population thereof; actively engage in audience development and engagement with special attention to young audiences in the Member States, reinforce the visibility of its activities and operate in accordance with Union policy objectives; have as Honorary President the President of the European Parliament and promote the idea of a Europe founded on peace, culture and mutual understanding, and Europe's rich musical heritage.

Members called for financing to be exceptionally granted to the EUYO for the period until the end of the current Creative Europe Programme.

PURPOSE: to create a legally sound and transparent solution to ensure sustainable support for the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO).

PROPOSED ACT: Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: EUYO is a unique orchestra in Europe , founded following a 1976 European Parliament resolution . Its Honorary President is the President of the European Parliament and its honorary patrons are the Heads of State or Government of the Member States, headed by the President of the European Commission.

Composed of very talented young musicians from all over Europe in a world-class European orchestra, it plays a unique role in promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual respect and understanding through culture. It also contributes to the circulation of European works and the mobility of young European talent beyond national and European borders.

The Creative Europe programme and its previous funding programs have supported the EUYO in various ways. Without sustained EU-wide support, it could not continue its activities and the Union would lose an important cultural ambassador. The EUYO should therefore be included among the measures benefitting from support from the Culture Sub-programme of the Creative Europe programme.

CONTENT: in order to make sustainable provision for the EUYO’s continued activity, the Commission proposes that it be recognised as a ‘body identified by a basic act’ within the meaning of Article 190(1)(d) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1268/2012 and that Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1295/20134 establishing the Creative Europe programme (2014 to 2020) to be amended accordingly ( adding a reference to EUYO ) to support the European sectors of culture and creation.

BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the existing financial envelope of the Creative Europe programme shall be used to finance EUYO, which will not require any additional budgetary resources from the Union.