Brussels, 03/12/2014 (Agence Europe) - A study published on 2 December by Ernst & Young, with the support of the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), demonstrates that the creative and cultural industries are the main sources underpinning the digital economy, a particular area upon which the Juncker Commission wishes to focus.
The study was presented to the Vice-President of the Commission, Andrus Ansip, as well as Commissioner Günther Oettinger responsible for the digital economy and Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, responsible for culture. Christophe Depreter, GESAC president, said that the study “shows that the creative and cultural industries create five times more jobs than telecommunications and far more than conventional sectors... Creators need to be at the centre of EU policy on authors' rights/copyright that would also feed a more diverse and future-proof digital economy”. Henrique Mota, vice-president of the FEP, said, “Without copyright, there would be far fewer books, and therefore creative expressions would be significantly stifled”. On this basis, GESAC and its partners are calling on European politicians to acknowledge the importance of creators in the future European framework on copyright and recognise that it is these creators, “who provide the life blood of the creative and cultural industries and the digital economy”, despite being under threat by internet intermediaries that reap huge benefits without providing creators with their fair share.
The EY report analyses 11 cultural and creative industrial sectors in the 28 member states, in an effort to assess their contribution to growth and employment targets. With total turnover worth €535.9 billion and accounting for more than 7 million jobs, these sectors demonstrate that they are making a significant contribution to the economy but that they also have specificities that need to be taken into account to ensure their viability. (IL)