News

Ahead of the 7-8 February Special Summit on the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the European Platform on the potential of Cultural and Creative Industries (‘The Platform’) – a group of more than 40 organisations representing a wide range of cultural and creative sectors – calls on EU Member States to adopt a strong budget for ‘Creative Europe’, the 2014-2020 programme for the cultural and creative sectors.

In current times of economic crisis, and as budgets for culture are being cut in many member states, the Platform believes it is crucial to have an ambitious budget for the Creative Europe Programme.

In a frank and thought-provoking interview with Les Echos, Jean-Noël Tronc, Director General of Sacem, mulls  the contribution of cultural industries to the French economy; the importance of balancing out power between the cultural industry, and the digital and electronic industries; and the role of Sacem as non-profit, cooperative company representing the creators at the heart of the cultural sector.

Full article here:

http://www.lesechos.fr/journal20130121/lec2_l_entretien_du_lundi/0202507527422-il-faut-en-finir-avec-l-exception-numerique-530274.php

Brussels is scarcely getting back into gear following the Christmas break, yet already we’re looking ahead to 2013. There is plenty going on across the Brussels-based institutions that we will be heavily involved with in the year to come – so stay tuned for updates here!

Here are just a few of the highlights:

We’re delighted that the European Parliament’s Culture and Education Committee has voted in – with near unanimity – a revised Report on the Creative Europe Programme. European Peoples’ Party Spokesman for the dossier Jean-Marie Cavada says he is confident that, in its current form, the report can now address the common challenges that the cultural and audiovisual sectors face.

Creative Europe – promoting economic growth, employment, innovation and social cohesion

The cultural and creative sectors hold untapped potential for economic growth and jobs – not to mention creative diversity – in Europe. The Creative Europe funding Programme will endeavour to ensure that these sectors can seize the opportunities that the digital age offers them. It is worth €1.8 billion, and is set to apply from 2014 through to 2020.

Improvements to the original text

The Commission published the first draft of the report in November 2011. Concerned that the original text was too vague and ‘purely economic’ Jean-Marie Cavada worked hard with the dossier’s rapporteur to amend it to suit the needs of the culture and media professionals at the heart of Europe’s creativity. The new text includes the following revisions:

• The two MEDIA and CULTURE Programmes will be kept apart, with specific targets for each programme;
• The part on culture in the programme  has been made more specific to enhance clarity;
• Certain points on the guarantee fund have been improved to make it fairer.

Potential gains

According to the Commission, once up-and-running the Creative Europe Programme will provide funding for:

• 300 000 artists and cultural professionals and their works
• More than 1 000 European films
• 2 500 European cinemas
• More than 5 500 books and other literary works

Commenting, Jean-Marie Cavada said “With this vote, the proposal has gained the coherence it lacked.”

We’re delighted with the efforts made by the European Parliament on the dossier, and look forward to seeing cultural professionals enjoy the fruits of their labours in the years to come!