Luxembourg, 20/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Council unanimously adopted its common position on the directive relating to resale rights to the benefit of the author of an original work of art. This text will now be forwarded to the European Parliament for second reading in the context of codecision procedure.
The common position provides for a right not exceeding EUR 12,500 to be paid to the artist or to the heirs each time a work of art is resold. EUROPE recalls that the United Kingdom has long opposed adoption of this common position, under the pretext of risk of relocation of the art market towards Switzerland or the United States. The compromise was jointly reached after many concessions had been made so that this text became inadequate in the eyes of Commissioner Bolkenstein and artists who feel it has been emptied of its substance (see our bulletins of 17 March, p.8 and 24 March, p.16).