In 2019, the EU launched its Shaping Europe’s Digital Future programme with as one of its primary principles the commitment to develop a fair and competitive digital single market.
The Copyright in the Digital Single Market directive (2019/790) that requested Member States to adapt and supplement the existing copyright framework to guarantee its technological neutral application while upholding of a high level of protection for all rightholders has only recently (July 2024) been implemented by all Member States. Despite some exceptional examples of effective improvement at national level, the promise that EU rules would be fit for purpose in the digital economy has not been fulfilled for what concerns the neighbouring rights of actors, musicians, dancers and other performers. They are receiving only a fraction of the value, if any at all, that is created with their work and increasingly face buyout contracts.
In 2022 the EU rolled out the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030 (2022/2481) in which it pursues a human-centric, sustainable vision for a digital society that empowers citizens and businesses. This objective comes with a Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles for the Digital Decade (2023/C 23/01) in which it is written that the EU prides itself on a fair digital environment for everyone.
If the EU truly wants a fair digital environment for everyone to be a fait accompli by 2030, action is needed immediately.
During its 30-year existence, AEPO-ARTIS has played a crucial role in informing the EU institutions of the vital contribution that performers make to Europe’s rich and diverse cultural sector and the specific attention their profession needs when shaping and reshaping legislation. We are a permanent and constructive partner to policy makers within all EU institutions.
With this manifesto we provide the EU institutions with an instrument that points out the most important objectives that the EU must pursue over the next five years to create the fair digital environment needed to keep the European cultural sector viable for our performers.
Understanding performers are a separate category of rightholders
Fix streaming by introducing unwaivable remuneration rights
Ratify the Beijing Treaty and fix discrimination
Secure the balance between artificial intelligence and performers’ rights
Promoting collective management as a key part of the artistic ecosystem
Continue to strive towards an EU wide status of the artist
Support performers at international level and in trade negotiations
The full “2024-2029 Political Guidelines for a Fair Environment for Performers in Europe” are available via this link.
