The ENCC has joined a pan-European community of 110 networks and associations of the Cultural and Creative Sectors in signing two letters which call on the full inclusion of culture in the European Commission's Recovery and Resilience Facility plans.
With their activities being halted and the jobs being wiped out, the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS) have been seriously damaged by the coronavirus pandemic. As the second wave is now hitting Europe, the impact of the crisis on the CCS will undoubtedly be increased, with these uncertain times making it impossible for them to devise viable plans for the future.
On the 28thof May, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a regulation on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) meant to help its Member States to address the challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic and reboost their recovery. The Member States were invited to design their own recovery and resilience plans. Unfortunately, the Commission had not integrated clear and strong references to culture in the guidance of these plans.
Culture is undeniably of high importance for our social and economic life and the risk that we won’t find our cultural life back in the post-pandemic world means a loss in terms of social cohesion, communities' empowerment, individual well-being, and the economic revival of Europe. That risk should be avoided at all costs and more actions are thus needed.
On the 17thof September, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on the Cultural Recovery of Europe which, among other things, called on the European Commission and Member States to earmark 2% of the RRF to the Cultural and Creative Sector (read our article on the subject here).
Indeed, because of the contribution of culture to the EU's economic, social and territorial cohesion, it is crucial that it is fully included in the attainment of the main RRF objectives. Therefore, with these letters, 110 European cultural networks (amongst which, the ENCC) ask the EU Member States to allocate at the very least 2% of their RRF budget to culture and CCS.
Read the letter to the European Commission here.
Read the letter to the National Governments here.
Read the letter in French here.
Read the letter in German here.
