Brussels, 30/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The round table organised on 23 April by the European Music Office (EMO) and the Centre national de la Chanson, des Variétés et du Jazz (CNV) at the Bourges Spring festival (in France) concluded with the adoption of a Manifesto for a music policy, in which the music industry calls for an EU action plan for music. They want the new Culture Programme, unveiled by the Commission, which will come into force in 2007 but which makes no specific proposals with regard to the culture industry, to (1) pay specific attention to the culture industry, particularly the music industry; (2) allow a genuine action plan to be developed though appropriate aid for the circulation of catalogues, artists and productions, European tours, festivals promoting new artists, and the exchange of experience between authors, composers and publishers; andb international promotion, the opening of European offices in countries with developed markets and in the main emerging markets, and the joint involvement of European professionals in international markets and fairs; and (3) training and the organisation of courses and seminars for professionals in the music industry.
The Manifesto notes that the action plan should be managed by one or more platforms of music promotion bodies of various Member States capable of organising long-term measures.