Arts: UK Relations with EU

(asked on 25th January 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government’s policy is on securing a supplementary agreement with the EU on the UK's creative workers being able to travel freely in the EU.


Answered by
Caroline Dinenage Portrait
Caroline Dinenage
This question was answered on 28th January 2021

This Government recognises the importance of the UK’s cultural industries, and that is why we pushed for ambitious arrangements to make it easier for performers and artists to perform across Europe as part of the negotiations on our future relationship with the EU.

During the negotiations with the EU, the UK proposed measures, developed in consultation with the creative industries, that would have allowed creative professionals to travel and perform in the UK and the EU more easily, without needing work-permits. Specifically, we proposed to capture the work done by musicians, artists and entertainers, and their accompanying staff through the list of permitted activities for short-term business visitors. Regrettably, these proposals were rejected by the EU.

There is scope to return to this issue in the future should the EU change its mind. The Government is looking at whether we can work with our partners in EU Member States to find ways to make life easier for those working in the creative industries in our respective countries.

We are also undertaking an extensive programme of engagement with the industry to assess impacts and support these sectors in understanding new requirements. DCMS Secretary of State had a very productive discussion with representatives from across the creative and cultural sectors on the issue on 20 January, and has committed to establish a DCMS-led working group on this issue.

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