Brussels, 08/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 7 June, the European Parliament adopted the own initiative report by Claire Gibault (ALDE, France) on the status of performing artists in the European Union. Noting that European performing artists are often unaware of their rights under existing EU legislation, the report calls on the European Commission to draw up a practical handbook which would contain essential information on sickness insurance, unemployment benefits and similar issues. It also wants the Commission to launch a pilot project introducing a European electronic social security card, specifically intended for European artists, and to begin to draw up Community rules in this area which could lead to the introduction of a specific temporary visa for European and third country artists. In order to facilitate the mobility of the artists, the report proposes that the Commission and the member states introduce a 'European professional register', similar to the Europass, an initiative launched in 2004 to make it easier to get qualifications recognised in other member states. This register would list the status of the artist as well as his or her previous contracts. Finally, the report calls on the Commission to carry out a study of the arrangements in place in member states to ensure that directives 2001/29/EC and 92/100/EEC are properly applied, and to consider the legal instruments and tools which would allow protection for European artists to be financed. One option could, for example, be a levy on commercial performances of original works and their duty free performances. (gc)