Parliamentary question

Written question to the European Commission

The cultural sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some governments have no clear plan as to when and how to reopen the sector. While there have been roadmaps for reopening other sectors, the cultural and creative sectors seem to be left aside. The economic consequences for the sector and its employees are far-reaching. Even with a tentative reopening of the sector in the near future, it will not be able to run at 100 % capacity, and safety and hygiene rules will add an additional financial burden to a sector that has experienced losses of more than 80 % of turnover over the past year.

1. Does the Commission intend to provide an EU roadmap for reopening the cultural sector?

2. Does it intend to provide guidelines for the safe reopening of cultural spaces?

Answer given by Commissioner Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

The Commission is fully aware of the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural and creative sectors, particularly on performing arts and music, which are estimated to have lost 90% and 76% of turnover respectively between 2019 and 2020.

The Commission has marshalled significant resources to support recovery in all sectors of the European economy, primarily through the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The budget for the new Creative Europe programme (2021-2027) has also been significantly increased, with the political support of the European Parliament; this will help relaunch pan-European cultural cooperation.

On 17 March 2021, the Commission adopted a communication on a common path to safe and sustained reopening. This announced that ‘to better coordinate Member States’ measures for the safe resumption of activities in the cultural and creative sector, the Commission will develop guidelines for sectors in the field of music (festivals, venues), audiovisual (film festivals and markets, cinemas, production sets), performing arts (festivals, venues), exhibition spaces such as museums or galleries, libraries and cultural heritage sites’.

The Commission is currently consulting stakeholders from the cultural and creative sector to inform the development of these guidelines, and will also liaise with Member States’ experts to this effect.