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Summary of the discussion of EU ministers for culture and media during the informal video conference on 1 December 2020 The Council of EU Ministers of Culture and Media met for an informal video conference on 1 December 2020 under the German Chair, Minister of State Grütters. The European Commission was represented by Vice-Presidents Jourová and Schinas and by Commissioners Breton and Gabriel. At the start of the meeting, the Chair offered a brief overview of her own specialist and culture programme. This programme had be altered dramatically due to the pandemic. At the heart of the programme were a seven- part digital conference series on EU media policy; a number of events focused on specific topics such as cultural heritage, gender equity, sustainability and cultural diversity; and the Hotel Beethoven exhibition at BOZAR in Brussels. This exhibition on the work and impact of Ludwig van Beethoven, the composer of the European anthem, marks the 250th anniversary of his birth. The working meeting of EU culture ministers in Berlin on 14 September, which included a visit to the Humboldt Forum together, offered an opportunity for personal contact. The policy discussion afterwards was focused on the ongoing pandemic situation in Europe and its effects on culture and media. The participating ministers noted the vulnerability of the creative sector and the precarious situation of those employed in this area. They unanimously underscored the need to strengthen culture and media for the long term and to prepare them for the future. They agreed that culture and media are a fundamental part of democracy and are essential for a thriving Europe that is confident in its own identity. Free media and resilient culture are of vital importance for the resilience of European society as a whole and are also drivers of social dynamism. The importance of international cultural relations in a spirit of solidarity has also grown during the pandemic. The ministers unanimously welcomed the progress on the Creative Europe funding programme that has been made under the German Presidency. They were particularly pleased at the agreement that has been reached between the European Parliament and Council to increase the programme’s budget by some 800 million euro above the amount for the current funding period. The Chair informed the group that good progress has been made in the trilogue negotiations on the Creative Europe funding 1  -2- programme. The ministers also unanimously noted the need for suitable participation of culture and media in structural funds and programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Digital Europe and InvestEU. The participants considered the EU’s new Recovery and Resilience Facility to be crucial for the urgently needed economic recovery of the creative sector. The representatives of the European Commission spoke about different EU measures that are open to the cultural and creative sector. For example, they mentioned that a culture cluster with a funding volume of 600 million euro is planned for the Horizon Europe programme. The Recovery and Resilience Facility is also striving to earmark two per cent of its budget for the culture and media sector. The member states were very interested to hear about the Commission’s initiative for a New European Bauhaus and the Action Plan on Europe’s Media in the Digital Decade, which presents a roadmap for the recovery and resilience of the media system. The other topics discussed were: – international cultural exchange and the associated issues surrounding pandemic- related travel restrictions on people working in the cultural sector and the media, also mentioning the essential nature of culture and media; – making support measures more flexible and dismantling bureaucratic hurdles; – the need for greater transparency regarding existing funding options as well as better information policy, for example through the development of a European Commission information portal; – bolstering inclusion and diversity; connecting cultural policy with current societal challenges such as climate change and sustainability; – the implementation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and the Digital Services Act; the increasing role of digital technologies and new technologies – for example, digital means of distribution – to boost resilience; – the restrictions on freedom of art and the media due to the pandemic. The German Chair then presented the conclusions on gender equity in the cultural sector that had been negotiated in the Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee and thanked all the delegations for their work and dedication. The issue was put on the agenda of EU cultural policy for the first time under the German Presidency and was supported by 24 member states. One of the key messages is that greater gender equality also represents a qualitative gain in creativity, diversity and breadth of perspective. The European Commission welcomed the conclusions and noted that a recent study had shown that women continue to face considerable discrimination in the cultural sector, especially in terms of their representation in decision-making bodies.  -3- The Chair presented the Council conclusions on safeguarding a free and pluralistic media system. These were welcomed as the result of constructive cooperation among the member states and as a clear political commitment by the Council. The conclusions provide important impetus for upcoming EU initiatives such as the Action Plan on Europe’s Media in the Digital Decade, the European Democracy Action Plan, and the Digital Services Act Package. According to the conclusions, media pluralism and freedom of expression are fundamental values that are to be taken into account in legislative initiatives. Safeguarding the financial sustainability of the media sector, preserving media diversity making it accessible in the platform economy, and ensuring the trustworthiness of the media are cited as key issues for future media policy. The European Commission welcomed the comprehensive approach taken in the conclusions and underscored the important role of a pluralistic media sector, including media education and media literacy. The Chair also informed the participants of the amendment of the legal act on European Capitals of Culture. The aim of the amendment is to give Rijeka, Croatia, and Galway, Ireland, the 2020 Capitals of Culture, a more flexible time frame for their cultural programming in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 Capitals of Culture will be postponed to 2022 and 2023. The Chair announced that the German city of Chemnitz has been chosen as a European Capital of Culture for 2025, with the slogan “C the unseen”. Slovenia announced that its selection process for 2025 will be concluded shortly. The Netherlands delegation informed the participants about dealing with colonial items in the collections of the Netherlands’ museums and described confronting the colonial past as indispensable to a peaceful future. The European added value of exchange on this issue was also emphasised. The French delegation spoke about the guidelines for implementing the Copyright Directive which the European Commission has announced, as well as a European Court of Justice ruling that raises questions about the financing of the music industry. The Italian delegation presented the initiative for a European reading alliance, which is to be aimed primarily at young people. Encouraging reading is especially important in an era of social media and smartphones. Finally, the Portuguese delegation gave a presentation introducing the areas of focus for culture and media in the upcoming Portuguese Council Presidency. Preparing for the future - Recovery of the culture and media sector from the COVID-19 pandemic Presidency discussion paper for the informal videoconference of EU Ministers of Culture and Audiovisual on 1 December 2020 The situation of culture and media in the COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the cultural and creative sector, including the media, hard. According to the European Commission, in the second quarter of 2020 alone the ‘creative and cultural ecosystems’ had already suffered financial losses of up to 70% due to the COVID-19 crisis. Freelancers and small businesses in particular are fighting for their economic survival; cultural life in the non-profit sector has virtually come to a standstill. Advertising revenues of media companies have plummeted. Whereas other sectors were able to catch their breath when the curve flattened out in the summer, the situation of cultural institutions remained precarious. Festivals and concerts were cancelled. Even when they were allowed to reopen, theatres, opera houses and cinemas were unable to recoup their operating costs due to strict limits on the number of seats that could be sold. In many Member States, the publishing sector - editors and booksellers - is at great risk, facing serious drops of the sale of editorial products. Global travel restrictions to contain the pandemic have had a massive impact on the mobility of artists and others working in the creative and media industries in European and non-European countries. They are often unable to travel to performances or events or must comply with restrictive quarantine regulations. This has consequences for the cultural exchange that is so important for our European way of life, well-being, social cohesion and ability to innovate. 1 Artists and cultural institutions as well as cultural and media enterprises have not only been hit especially hard by the necessary measures to contain the pandemic, they have also had to endure these measures for a very long time. The creative sector accounts for 4% of the EU’s economy, so it contributes not only to social cohesion and the critical examination of social issues, but also to the EU’s economic prosperity. Recovery measures taken by the EU institutions and Member States to date At European level, action was taken quickly to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. For example, the current ‘Creative Europe’ programme was made more flexible, and more discretion was allowed in EU law on state aid. At two online conferences during the Croatian Presidency, on 8 April and 19 May 2020, the EU Ministers of Culture and Media discussed national measures to aid culture and media and advocated a strong common response at European level. We agreed that the planned aid from EU funds and programmes must also reach the cultural and media sector. The declaration signed by 26 EU Culture and Media ministers after the informal videoconference held on 8 April 2020 paved the way for joint European measures. Those active in the cultural and media sector regarded this declaration as a clear sign that they would not be abandoned. Challenges ahead ‘Together for Europe’s recovery’ is the motto of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Europe’s recovery also needs the power of culture and the media to bring people together. Although the budget for the EU’s ‘Creative Europe’ programme is supposed to be considerably strengthened, the programme as such cannot serve as a recovery programme for culture and the media. However, it is crucial for the creative sector that it is launched on time. The Multiannual Financial Framework – along with the many programmes and initiatives which depend on it, such as the sectoral regulation for the ‘Creative Europe’ programme – will be adopted soon. Combined with the NextGenerationEU recovery programme, the MFF represents the record sum of more than EUR 1.8 trillion. 2 It looks as though other EU instruments, including Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Digital Europe and the European Regional Development Fund, will be open to the cultural and media sector as well. However, it is often not easy to find the necessary information to access the relevant programmes and funds, leaving potential applicants lost in a jungle of funding options. How can a clearly structured information portal be set up which is easy to use and would help make the most of synergies between EU funding instruments to benefit culture and the media? In view of the ongoing pandemic and crisis in the cultural and creative sector, the German Presidency would like to propose the following points for discussion at ministerial level on 1 December:  The European recovery measures have to be targeted at those concerned in the cultural and creative sector, including the media, to help them to prepare for future challenges in a sustainable and resilient way. The sector has to continue to contribute to the integration of Europe! We want to further strengthen European funding programmes, and ensure that the cultural and media sector is better informed about them. This requires sustainable measures which will need to be discussed.  We want to offer prospects for the future of the cultural and media sector, especially since the massive impacts of the pandemic will continue for a longer period of time. How can we improve the legal framework for the benefit of culture and the media, for example with regard to travel restrictions? We want to make sure that our sector benefits from the possibilities offered by the Recovery and Resilience Facility when it is implemented at the national level. The Presidency reminds participants that, due to time constraints, their interventions should not last longer than three minutes. 3 Translation Prof. Monika Grütters MdB Bundeskanzleramt, 11012 Berlin Staatsministerin bei der Bundeskanzlerin Willy-Brandt-Straße 1, 10557 Berlin 11012 Berlin +49 30 18 400 2060 +49 30 18 400 1808 [email protected] Berlin, 24 November 2020 Dear Colleagues, As the informal video conference of the Ministers of Culture and Media of the European Union on 1 December 2020 is approaching, I want to seize the opportunity to cordially invite you. I would have loved to welcome all of you in Brussels for a formal EU Council meeting under Germany’s Presidency. Unfortunately, the current pandemic situation across Europe forces us to comply with health safety requirements and opt for a virtual format instead. The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to dominate global events. Europe and the cultural and media sector in particular are severely affected. At the same time, this crisis has shown how critical culture is for a liveable, vibrant Europe and how crucial pluralistic and independent media coverage is in particular in times of crisis. The Council Conclusions on gender equality in the field of culture and on safeguarding a free and pluralistic media system that have been developed under Germany’s Council Presidency take a clear stance on this. They are a joint contribution by the member states to the future culture and media policy agenda at EU level and provide an important impetus to upcoming initiatives of the European Commission. The meeting of the ministers of culture which was held in Berlin on 14 September 2020, unfortunately also with restricted physical participation, gave us an opportunity for a first exchange on the serious impacts which the pandemic has had on the cultural sector. This discussion is to be continued at the virtual meeting on 1 December 2020. The policy SEITE 2 VON 2 BERLIN, 24 NOVEMBER 2020 discussion is therefore entitled “Preparing for the future — Recovery of the culture and media sector from the COVID-19 pandemic”. One element for the recovery of the creative sector at European level is the funding programme “Creative Europe”. There are indications that, subject to the negotiations on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework, the funding for this programme is to be significantly increased, which is a strong signal for Europe’s culture and media policy. The negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission on the legal bases for the programme have also made dynamic progress. Another item on the agenda of our online conference are the “European Capitals of Culture” which receive a great deal of public attention as they bring Europe’s vibrant diversity to life. I am glad that we have been able to find a way to adapt this successful initiative to the COVID-19 situation by giving the cities concerned the necessary amount of flexibility. I look forward to our exchange on these issues — stay safe until we see and hear each other on 1 December 2020! Yours sincerely, signed Monika Grütters Enclosure Prof. Monika Grütters MdB Federal Chancellery, 11012 Berlin, Germany Minister of State in the Federal Chancellery Willy-Brandt-Straße 1, 10557 Berlin, Germany 11012 Berlin, Germany +49 30 18 400 2060 +49 30 18 400 1808 [email protected] Berlin, 21. December 2020 Dear Colleagues, Although we were unfortunately not able to meet in person in Brussels, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you very much for your dedication and contributions to our virtual meeting of EU culture ministers on 1 December 2020. Attached is a summary of our fruitful discussions. As every contribution to the meeting made readily apparent, cultural diversity and an intact culture and media landscape are utterly essential to a thriving Europe. Culture is not some luxury good – it is our daily nourishment! I am pleased to see encouraging signs, such as the increased budget for the Creative Europe programme that has now been decided for the new funding period. The six months of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union were marked by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only did the pandemic require our intensive political engagement with its consequences for culture and media, it also demanded considerable replanning of numerous Presidency events and raised technical issues related to conducting virtual meetings of the Council and its committees and working parties. I would like to thank you very much for your trust and cooperation as well as your generous support during what has been a difficult time for all of us. I also had the opportunity to see some of you in person at the meeting of ministers in Berlin on 14 September 2020. And now the time has come to pass on the baton: I wish great success, good luck and all the very best to the Portuguese Presidency that will begin on 1 January 2021 and to my colleague Graça Fonseca. PAGE 2 OF 2 BERLIN 21 DEZEMBER 2020 Let us hope that in the new year European cultural life will soon re-emerge from the winter of this pandemic, and creativity will once again flourish widely. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you in person again, and I thank you very much for our excellent work together during Germany’s Council Presidency. Stay healthy, and let us continue our dedicated work together on a vibrant and liveable European Union. Yours sincerely, Monika Grütters Informal videoconference of the Ministers of Culture and Audiovisual 1 December 2020 (10.00 tbc) Revised Agenda 1. Preparing for the future – Recovery of the culture and media sector from the Covid-19 pandemic Policy debate 2. Any other business a. Conclusions on gender equality in the field of culture Information from the Presidency b. Conclusions on safeguarding a free and pluralistic media system Information from the Presidency c. European Capitals of Culture Information from the Presidency on the state of play d. Dealing with colonial collections in the Netherlands Information from the Netherlands delegation e. Recent copyright issues Information from the French delegation f. Promoting a European Reading Alliance Information from the Italian delegation g. Priorities of the incoming Presidency in the field of Culture and Audiovisual Information from the Portuguese delegation ____________________