Brussels, 20/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Union should support the creative and cultural sector, which has considerable potential, said the European Parliament's culture and education committee on 18 June, adopting the draft resolution of Marie-Thérèse Sanchez-Schmidt (EPP, France). The text calls on the EU to adopt a long-term coherent policy at the European level, with European, national and local financing, so as to support and promote cultural production and the creative industries.
With a contribution estimated at between 3.3% and 4.7% of GDP, and over 7 million jobs created in the EU, the cultural and creative sectors are developing rapidly and could bring unemployment rates down more quickly - especially for young people. Although the MEPs did not adopt Sanchez-Schmidt's proposal for reduced VAT on cultural goods, they stress the need for a harmonised regulatory and tax framework, which is more appropriate - in particular, allowing SMEs (of which there are many in the creative sector) to exploit their potential beyond their national borders. The EU should also ensure diversification in the choice of education and training, in order to respond better to demands for specific skills in these innovative domains - given that a large share of the jobs created by the cultural and creative industries are filled by young people. Universities and other training centres should adapt their range of training and research, and better use should be made of companies that are active in these sectors. The resolution calls for the creation of a social status for freelance professionals in the cultural and creative sectors so as to guarantee them access to affordable conditions for health insurance, retirement pension, social insurance and protection in the event of unemployment. (IL/transl.fl)