Culture Policy in the EU

Latest business news about culture policy in the European Union.

Raunchy Bulgarian pop-folk genre gets EU aid — 15 January 2013, 22:01 CET

Bulgaria's top promoter of the region's raunchy pop-folk music genre known as "Chalga" is set to receive some one million euros in EU funding, it emerged Tuesday, sparking an outcry among parts of the cultural establishment.

Orphan works — 04 October 2012, 20:06 CET

Orphan Works are works which are protected by copyright but whose creators cannot be identified or found. The new Directive on Orphan Works will provide Europe's libraries, archives, film heritage institutions, public broadcasters and other organisations acting in the public interest with the appropriate legal framework to provide on-line cross-border access to orphan works contained in their collections. The Directive is a central element of the Commission's strategy to create an enabling framework for the use of intellectual property announced in its intellectual property strategy adopted in May 2011.

Brussels looks to culture to boost jobs — 26 September 2012, 21:43 CET

The European Commission has called for a huge increase in investment in the cultural and creative industries, which account for up to 8.5 million jobs, saying they are a key motor for Europe's growth.

Universal bags Beatles label EMI, says bye-bye to Guetta — 21 September 2012, 21:42 CET

The world's biggest record company Universal won clearance Friday to take over EMI, home to the Beatles, but only on condition that it sell off rights to a string of top artists like David Guetta.

EU conditionally approves Universal-EMI merger: report — 20 September 2012, 11:23 CET

The European Commission is set to approve Universal's $1.9 billion purchase of EMI, but will require it to sell off many of the target's major record labels, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Denmark's Aarhus picked for European Capital of Culture 2017 — 24 August 2012, 19:18 CET

The Danish city of Aarhus was recommended on Friday by an EU selection panel as one of two European Capitals of Culture to be chosen for 2017.

EU slams Russia over Pussy Riot sentence — 17 August 2012, 19:17 CET

The EU's foreign affairs chief says a "serious question mark" hung over Russian justice and calls on Moscow to "reverse" its two-year jail sentences for three members of female music act Pussy Riot for protesting against President Vladimir Putin.

EU court blocks 'Royal Shakespeare' drinks ... from Austria — 06 July 2012, 14:22 CET

A European court struck a blow for "Harry, England, and Saint George" Friday, denying an Austrian company the right to sell a range of drinks under the "Royal Shakespeare" label.

EU details objections to Universal-EMI merger: source — 04 July 2012, 12:59 CET

The European Commission has sent Universal Music Group a letter outlining its objections to its proposed $1.9 billion acquisition British music label EMI, a source said Wednesday.

EU launches in-depth probe of Universal buyout of EMI — 23 March 2012, 20:05 CET

The European Commission Friday opened an in-depth investigation of the proposed purchase of British music label EMI Music by Vivendi subsidiary Universal Music Group, over competition concerns.

Creative Europe: EC plan to boost cultural and creative sectors - guide — 23 November 2011, 23:10 CET

Thousands of people working in cinema, TV, culture, music, performing arts, heritage and related areas would benefit from increased EU support under the new 'Creative Europe' programme unveiled by the European Commission today. With a proposed budget of €1.8 billion for the period 2014-2020, it would be a much-needed boost for the cultural and creative industries, which are a major source of jobs and growth in Europe. The new programme would allocate more than €900 million in support of the cinema and audiovisual sector (area covered by current MEDIA programme) and almost € 500 million for culture. The Commission is also proposing to allocate more than €210 million for a new financial guarantee facility, which would enable small operators to access up to €1 billion in bank loans, as well as around €60 million in support of policy cooperation and fostering innovative approaches to audience building and new business models.

Recommendation on the digitisation of cultural material and its preservation online - guide — 29 October 2011, 00:23 CET

The European Commission has adopted a Recommendation asking EU Member States to step up their efforts, pool their resources and involve the private sector in digitising cultural material. This is seen as essential to make European cultural heritage more widely available and to boost growth in Europe's creative industries. The digitised material should be made available through Europeana, Europe's digital library, archive and museum.

Culture - calls for proposals (Grants) — 17 April 2011, 00:24 CET

Calls for proposals (Grants) - Open Call for Proposals Recent Call for Proposals (Closed) Grants awarded

Europeana - Europe's digital library - guide — 18 November 2010, 13:03 CET

Anyone in the world can now access over 14 million digitised books, maps, photographs, paintings, film and music clips from cultural institutions across Europe through Europe's digital library Europeana. Launched in 2008 with two million objects, Europeana has already passed the initial target for 2010 of 10 million objects. On 18 November 2010 the Reflection Group ("Comité des Sages" - Maurice Lévy, Elisabeth Niggemann, Jacques de Decker) set up by the Commission to explore new ways to bring Europe's cultural heritage online addressed the EU's Council of Culture Ministers and the European Parliament's Committee on Culture. The Comité des Sages' report is due to be published at the beginning of 2011.

European Heritage Label — 11 March 2010, 00:07 CET

The European Commission on 9 March proposed to establish the 'European Heritage Label' as an EU-wide initiative. The aim of the Label is to highlight sites that celebrate and symbolize European integration, ideals and history. The proposed Decision to establish the Label will be submitted to the EU's Council of Ministers and the European Parliament for adoption and could come into effect in 2011 or 2012.

Return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State — 11 January 2010, 23:54 CET

This EU Directive secures the return of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value that have been unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State once controls have been abolished at internal frontiers.

Export of cultural goods — 10 December 2009, 15:45 CET

In order to ensure that EU exports of cultural goods are subject to uniform checks, this Regulation makes the presentation of an export licence compulsory for their export outside the customs territory of the European Community.

European Union Prize for Literature - briefing — 16 July 2009, 16:51 CET

The names of twelve European authors to receive the first ever European Union Prize for Literature were announced today by t he European Commission, the European Booksellers Federation (EBF), the European Writers' Council (EWC) and the Federation of European Publishers (FEP). The prizes will be presented during an Award ceremony in Brussels on 28 September. In recognition of his oeuvre and literary success Henning Mankell, the well-known and bestselling Swedish author, has accepted the role of Ambassador of the European Union Prize for Literature for the coming year.

Key Audiovisual and Media Policies of the European Union: eCommunications — 09 July 2009, 16:24 CET

To improve innovation and increase efficiency in the telecommunications sector, the European Union promotes increased competition through a series of regulatory rules.

EVE - online platform on results from EU projects in Education and Culture — 05 March 2009, 23:37 CET

EVE - the electronic platform containing results of projects financed through programmes managed by the European Commission in the fields of Education, Training, Culture, Youth and Citizenship

Commission prolongs film support rules until end 2012 - briefing — 28 January 2009, 17:12 CET

The European Commission has today adopted a Communication extending the validity of the state aid assessment criteria for the production of films and audiovisual works until 31 December 2012. These criteria, laid down in a Commission Communication of 2001, are used by the Commission to approve Europe’s national, regional and local film support schemes under the EU's state aid rules. The new Commission Communication also identifies a number of trends which are likely to have to be addressed by a future Cinema Communication. Across the EU, around EUR 1.6 bn is spent on national film support each year.

Entropa: Stereotypes are Barriers to be Demolished — 14 January 2009, 20:39 CET

The Czech Republic, as president of the European Union, unveiled on 12 December a modern art installation called 'Entropa'. Entropa was billed as the joint work of 27 artists, each one from a different EU Member State. Each object depicts one Member State using common stereotypes or prejudices. The Czech sculptor behind the work, David Cerny, has revealed the work as a fake which only involved Czech artists.

European Border Breakers Awards — 09 January 2009, 22:44 CET

Creative excellence and talent is reflected in diversity of European music. The European Commission says artists who succeed in breaking national borders with their debut album and reach audiences throughout Europe deserve public recognition. That's why the European Union annually rewards artists' border breaking success with the European Border Breakers Awards. The Commission worked closely with representatives of Europe's music industry to select this year's award winners and to prepare the Award Ceremony. The awards supplement the Commission's aim to stimulate the mobility of artists and their work and to highlight intercultural dialogue.

European Prize for Contemporary Literature — 03 December 2008, 00:08 CET

The European Commission is launching a new European Union prize for contemporary literature. The aim is to put the spotlight on the creativity and diverse wealth of Europe's contemporary literature, to promote more circulation of literature within Europe and encourage greater interest in non-national literary works. The first edition of the Prize will be awarded in autumn 2009.

Europeana, Europe's Digital Library - briefing — 20 November 2008, 17:02 CET

Europeana, Europe's multimedia online library opens to the public today. At www.europeana.eu, Internet users around the world can now access more than two million books, maps, recordings, photographs, archival documents, paintings and films from national libraries and cultural institutions of the EU's 27 Member States. Europeana opens up new ways of exploring Europe’s heritage: anyone interested in literature, art, science, politics, history, architecture, music or cinema will have free and fast access to Europe's greatest collections and masterpieces in a single virtual library through a web portal available in all EU languages. But this is just the beginning. In 2010, Europeana will give access to millions of items representing Europe's rich cultural diversity and will have interactive zones such as communities for special interests. Between 2009 and 2011, some €2 million per year of EU funding will be dedicated to this. The Commission also plans to involve the private sector in the further expansion of Europe's digital library. In September 2007, the European Parliament supported, in a resolution voted by an overwhelming majority, the creation of a European digital library.