Brussels, 08/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 7 May, the European Parliament's culture and education committee unanimously adopted the own-initiative report by Claire Gibault (ALDE, France) on the status of the artist in the European Union. We would point out that the report mainly aims to improve employment conditions for performing artists who move around Europe as part of their work and to guarantee their social rights (see EUROPE 9404). In addition to drawing up a practical handbook for artists on their rights as suggested in the initial report, the European Commission is asked to launch a pilot project introducing a European electronic social security card, specifically intended for European artists. Finally, in order to facilitate the recognition and authorisation of qualifications at Community level, the report invites the Commission and member states to set up an on-line database using the Europass initiative. When it came to her stated wish to find financing to improve the protection of artists and encourage cultural creation, Ms Gibault was unable to have her amendments adopted by the parliamentary committee. The amendments called on member states to allocate to these objectives part of the income generated by the commercial exploitation of right-free cultural heritage and income generated by application of the right to fair compensation. The consolidated report nonetheless calls on the Commission to carry out a study in order to analyse the measures taken by member states for effective application of Directives 2001/29/EC and 92/100/EEC, and to envisage legal instruments allowing for protection of European artists to be financed. (gc)