Kiri

OPEN LETTER TO THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF THE EU MEMBER STATES THE MINISTERS OF FINANCE THE MINISTERS OF CULTURE Support the European Cultural Recovery In these troubling times, the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) across Europe have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we are all witnessing, theatres, cinemas, festivals, concert halls, museums and heritage sites were among the first that were forced to close their doors due to the measures against COVID-19, and are about to be among the last to reopen. Moreover, the CCS are now faced with the economic impact of the severe second wave of the pandemic. In this context, large parts of the CCS will not be able to survive, given the lack of funding, delays in supporting measures, as well as the additional confinement measures, as highlighted by many European and international organizations. Culture is an intangible asset, but it is not made out of thin air. Also, it delivers value to our European economy. The Cultural Creative Sector and Industries represent 8.7 million jobs in the EU and approximately 4% of the European GDP. The CCS have the highest numbers in youth employment, are highly gender balanced and represent a high percentage of our SMEs. The European Parliament has been fighting very hard during these months for a positive change. With a large majority of 598 votes, our Resolution on the Cultural Recovery of Europe was adopted in September. In other words, the Members of the European Parliament, on behalf of their voters and standing as the voice of the European people, call on the Commission and the Member States to actively support the CCS with specific measures. Let us mention a few of the measures demanded in the Resolution:  Dedicate at least 2% of the Recovery and Resilience Facility to the Cultural and Creative Sectors and industries  Reduce VAT rates for all cultural goods and services  Improve valuation of intangible assets  Introduce tax credits and tax motivation tools for cultural production  Improve the social protection systems and the working conditions for the workers in the CCS  Secure equal accessibility and inclusiveness for the distribution of cultural funding  Protect the future of the cultural ecosystem under the pressures brought by the green and the digital transition  Include the CCS in all financial supporting tools, such as the InvestEU and the NextGenerationEU 1 In this context, we urge you to embrace this Resolution regarding the cultural policy of your country at both the national and the European level. Finally, as proven by the experience of millions of European citizens during the pandemic, culture is what makes us resilient. Culture is the key to our identity for today and to our heritage for tomorrow. There are countries that give more to cultural policies than others. It is important that all countries give tangible support for their cultural policies. Because all countries’ cultural policies equally contribute to our European cultural identity and heritage. Culture is not a luxury, but the right catalyst for prosperity, creative dialogue and democracy. Please accept the challenge and seize the opportunity. Support culture now so that Europe can truly be United in Diversity. Yours sincerely, Sabine VERHEYEN, EPP, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education Romeo FRANZ, Greens/EFA, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education Dace MELBĀRDE, ECR, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education, Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education, Coordinator for the Cultural Creators Friendship Group Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ, EPP, Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education Petra KAMMEREVERT, S&D, Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education Laurence FARRENG, Renew Europe, Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education Salima YENBOU, Greens/EFA, Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education Niyazi KIZILYÜREK, GUE/NGL, Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education Tomasz FRANKOWSKI, EPP Vice-Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education, co-initiator of this open letter Ibán GARCÍA DEL BLANCO, S&D Coordinator for the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, co-initiator of this open letter Irena JOVEVA, Renew Europe, Coordinator for the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, co-initiator of this open letter Niklas NIENAẞ, Greens/EFA, Coordinator for the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, co-initiator of this open letter Alexis GEORGOULIS, GUE/NGL, Coordinator for the Cultural Creators Friendship Group, initiator of this open letter Isabella ADINOLFI, NA 2 Alviina ALAMETSÄ, Greens/EFA Francois ALFONSI, Greens/EFA Konstantinos ARVANITIS, GUE/NGL Pernando BARRENA ARZA, GUE/NGL Monika BEŇOVÁ, S&D Stéphane BIJOUX, Renew Europe Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA, Renew Europe Gabriele BISCHOFF, S&D Damian BOESELAGER, Greens/EFA Franc BOGOVIČ, EPP Vlad-Marius BOTOS, Renew Europe Milan BRGLEZ, S&D Saskia BRICMONT, Greens/EFA Sylvie BRUNET, Renew Europe Maria da Graça CARVALHO, EPP Leila CHAIBI, GUE/NGL Olivier CHASTEL, Renew Europe Ilana CICUREL, Renew Europe Ignazio CORRAO, Greens/EFA Rosa D'AMATO, Greens/EFA Özlem DEMIREL, GUE/NGL Martina DLABAJOVÁ, Renew Europe Pascal DURAND, Renew Europe Christian EHLER, EPP Cyrus ENGERER, S&D Jonas FERNANDEZ ALVAREZ, S&D Loucas FOURLAS, EPP Daniel FREUND, Greens/EFA Lina GALVEZ MUÑOZ, S&D Giorgos GEORGIOU, GUE/NGL Sandro GOZI, Renew Europe Klemen GROSELJ, Renew Europe 3 Christophe GRUDLER, Renew Europe Francisco GUERREIRO, Greens/EFA José GUSMÃO, GUE/NGL Andrzej Witold HALICKI, EPP Heidi HAUTALA, Greens/EFA Hannes HEIDE, S&D Krzysztof HETMAN, EPP Martin HOJSÍK, Renew Europe Romana JERKOVIC, S&D Jarosław KALINOWSKI, EPP Fabienne KELLER, Renew Europe Łukasz KOHUT, S&D Petros KOKKALIS, GUE/NGL Stelios KOULOGLOU, GUE/NGL Elena KOUNTOURA, GUE/NGL Stelios KYMPOUROPOULOS, EPP Nathalie LOISEAU, Renew Europe Juan Fernando LÓPEZ AGUILAR, S&D Elżbieta Katarzyna ŁUKACIJEWSKA, EPP Pierfrancesco MAJORINO, S&D Marisa MATIAS, GUE/NGL Sara MATTHIEU, Greens/EFA Emmanuel MAUREL, GUE/NGL Karen MELCHIOR, Renew Europe Martina MICHELS, GUE/NGL Francisco José MILLÁN MON, EPP Silvia MODIG, GUE/NGL Ulrike MÜLLER, Renew Europe Ville NIINISTÖ, Greens/EFA Jan OLBRYCHT, EPP Demetris PAPADAKIS, S&D Dimitrios PAPADIMOULIS, GUE/NGL, Vice-President 4 Jutta PAULUS, Greens/EFA Anne-Sophie PELLETIER, GUE/NGL Manuel PIZARRO, S&D Peter POLLÁK, EPP Sira REGO, GUE/NGL Diana RIBA I GINER, Greens/EFA Frédérique RIES, Renew Europe Eugenia RODRÍGUEZ PALOP, GUE/NGL Domènec RUIZ DEVESA, S&D Andreas SCHIEDER, S&D Monica SEMEDO, Renew Europe Michal ŠIMEČKA, Renew Europe Ivan Vilibor SINČIĆ, NA Andrey SLABAKOV, ECR Massimiliano SMERIGLIO, S&D Maria SPYRAKI, EPP Nicolae ŞTEFĂNUȚĂ, Renew Europe Véronique TRILLET-LENOIR, Renew Europe Inese VAIDERE, EPP Monika VANA, Greens/EFA Marie-Pierre VEDRENNE, Renew Europe Henna VIRKKUNEN, EPP Iuliu WINKLER, EPP Stéphanie YON-COURTIN, Renew Europe Željana ZOVKO, EPP Milan ZVER, EPP 5