Brussels, 01/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - During the 17th Franco German Council of Ministers meeting in Berlin on 31 March, French Minister for Culture and Communication Fleur Pellerin and German Minister for Justice and Consumer Protection Heiko Maas signed a joint statement on copyright. It was adopted to set out the joint positions that France and Germany will argue together at the European institutions, as part of the recasting of the European framework for copyright that the European Commission will be presenting next autumn. The statement highlights the convergence of views between the two member states on this issue. It highlights, in particular, that copyright must be promoted as the basis of creative activity and that it plays a key role in stimulating cultural diversity, creativity and innovation. Eight principles are set out in detail to guide the position of the two countries in European debates. At the top of the list are the issue of remuneration of creators, the need to take into account the economic models of the cultural and creative industries, whose importance is key to the European economy and access to creative works by optimising use of digital resources. In a recent visit to the European Parliament, Pellerin met German Minister for Culture and Media Monika Grutters to call, by mutual agreement, for application of the same reduced VAT rates to digital and printed books (see EUROPE 11278).
The joint declaration was adopted at the 17th Franco-German Council of Ministers on 31 March, which enabled the two member states to discuss several matters (foreign and defence policy, justice and home affairs, finance, the economy and employment, education and research, culture and copyright, as well as climate policy). France and Germany want to contribute in this way to efforts made at a European level to stimulate growth, competitiveness, investment and job creation, combined with solid public finances. (Isabelle Lamberty)