Get your voices together
In order to react to alarming situations or specific developments in the field of cultural policies in Europe, the EMC may issue statements adressed at the respective decision-makers. Find below the most recent statements that were issued by the EMC. Also the EMC joins forces with other networks to effectively put pressure on decision-makers.
EMC Policy Statements
EMC Position Paper on Creative Europe
Issued September 2024
In the framework of the European Commission's mid-term evaluation of the Creative Europe programme, the EMC has published its Position Paper "Creative Europe: A most valuable instrument to support cultural diversity and exchange" as well as its reply to the open questions of the survey.
Election of the European Parliament's CULT Committee Chair: EMC supports #CulturalDealEU statement
Issued June 2024
The EMC supports the statement of the #CulturalDealEU campaign on the election of the European Parliament's Chair for the Culture and Education Committee (CULT). We call upon the European Parliament to defend a vision of a cultural Europe that is free, open, diverse, inclusive and democratic.
Elections to the European Parliament. Europe Matters for Music and Music Matters for Europe
Issued June 2024
The European Music Council (EMC) calls on the future Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and their parties to reflect and promote in their political work the needs of the music and cultural sectors in all their diversity.
Joint letter on proposed Creative Europe budget cuts 2024
Issued September 2023
The EMC supports this letter by 70 cultural organisations calling on the EU Member States and the Commission to reconsider the proposed budget cuts for Creative Europe in 2024.
On the Value of STEAM and arts education. A joint response to the Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action Calls 2023
Issued May 2023
The Association of European Conservatoires (AEC), ELIA, Culture Action Europe and the EMC have issued a joint position paper expression their alarm by the framing of STEAM presented in the Horizon Work Programme 2023. By choosing to reinterpret the STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) concept almost exclusively as a means to bridge the gender gap within the STEM fields, this framing undermines the original raison d’être of STEAM — its inherent potential to promote creativity and innovation.
International organisations appeal to the Egyptian president to release Galal El-Behairy on Eid
Issued April 2023
The EMC supports this letter by 10 cultural organisations including the International Music Council calling for the release of Galal El-Behairy.
Call to the European Commission on US artist visas costs increase
Issued February 2023
The EMC supports this letter by 192 cultural organisations calling to the European Commission on US artist visas costs increase.
A minute of silence on 24 February
Issued February 2023
The EMC calls for a minute of silence on 24 February in solidarity with Ukraine and all victims of the war. The initiative was first proposed by the German Composers Association.
One Voice for European Music
Issued April 2022
The EMC supports this initiative which aims at strengthening the EU's action supporting the music industry and commercial music sector.
EMC stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and the music sector in all its diversity
Issued March 2022
The EMC has issued a statement on the current situation in Ukraine
International Cultural Collaboration with Ukraine Must Be Supported By World Leaders
Issued February 2022
The EMC and numerous other cultural organisations call on national governments, the European Commission and world leaders to support and continue collaboration with Ukraine.
Open letter: Claiming a front row seat - the place of music in society
Issued July 2021
76 International, European and national music organisations are calling for better recognition of music in all policy areas.
EU-US Summit 15 June 2021: Call to support cultural relations
Issued June 2021
As EU and US leaders meet in June, about 100 organisations from across Europe’s and America’s cultural and creative sectors are uniting their voices to call for attention to the EU-US cultural relations, of particular importance to recover from the Corona crisis.
Include culture in national recovery strategies and reactivate cultural life
Issued March 2021
A group of more than 110 European cultural networks urge Member States not to forget culture in their national recovery plans and dedicate at least 2% of their Recovery Funds to culture.
Culture in EU's external relations: The way forward
Issued November 2020
20 cultural organisations call on the European Commission and the European Parliament to strengthen international cultural relations within future policy frameworks including in foreign and sustainable development policies.
Letter to the European Commission and Member States: Culture in the RRF
Issued November 2020
In this joint letter to the European Commission and national governments, 110 organisations from the cultural sector urge to make culture an integral part of the recovery plans of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).
Joint letter: Report on a Recovery and Resilience Facility
Issued October 2020
In this joint letter to Members of the European Parliament, 21 European cultural networks and platforms ask for the support of a number of amendments tabled on a draft Report on a Recovery and Resilience Facility that support earmarking at least 2% for the support of the cultural and creative sector.
Joint letter: InvestEU
Issued October 2020
In this joint letter to the European Commission, 26 organisations from the cultural and creative sector urge the EU to ensure cultural and creative industries will benefit from appropriate level of support in the future InvestEU programme.
Open Letter: European Democracy Action Plan recommendations on artistic freedom
Issued September 2020
This open letter was submitted in response to the public consultation launched by the European Commission on the European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP). The letter signed by more than 20 organisations contributes to the ongoing discussion by setting out arguments for the recognition and promotion of freedom of expression in all its forms.
Artists' statement: A call to invest in all our creative futures
Issued July 2020
45 European artists from various disciplines, among them the musicians Björk, Jean-Michel Jarre, Benny Andersson and performance artist Marina Abramovic, have signed a new manifesto to demand budget support for culture.
Mit der deutschen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft die Kultur stärken
Issued June 2020
Gemeinsamer Appell des Deutschen und des Europäischen Musikrates zum Start der deutschen Ratspräsidentschaft am 1. Juli 2020.
Investing in Europe's next generation by investing in culture
Issued June 2020
This letter signed by 99 organisations from the cultural and creative sector calls for strong and systemic support measures at EU and national level to recover from the crisis.
Uphold culture in the EU budget
Issued June 2020
Despite its historic relevance, the revised Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal presented by the European Commission on 27 May is unambitious for culture. The EMC supports this call published by Culture Action Europe for a central place for culture in the EU long-term recovery budget and MFF.
Open letter: human rights and culture groups call for release of Mustafa Gamal
Issued May 2020
The EMC undersigns with 8 other organisations an open letter to call for the immediate release of Mustafa Gamal and Galal El-Behairy along with all political prisoners in Egypt, and for an independent investigation into the circumstances and cause of Shady Habash’s death.
Time to put words into action
Issued May 2020
Time to put words into action! 78 organisations across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors call for ambitious EU budgetary measures to get through the COVID-19 crisis.
Now Europe needs culture and culture needs Europe
Issued April 2020
39 European networks representing over 5000 organisations in 88 countries, address an open letter to the representatives of the EU and all European countries to include culture, live performance and artists in their emergency funds. The letter was initiated by EMC member REMA.
Music sector joins together to call for EU and national investment to address current crisis and promote diversity
Issued April 2020
This joint letter by 40 music organisations calls for EU and national investment to address the current COVID-19 crisis and promote diversity.
Joint letter: Effect of COVID-19 on Creative Europe
Issued March 2020
This joint letter to Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and the Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) lists proposals by networks, platforms and other organisations funded by Creative Europe how to cope with the consequences of COVID-19 on Creative Europe and the European cultural and creative sector.
Coronavirus and the music sector
Issued March 2020
The Coronavirus is spreading world-wide and the crisis is severely affecting public, cultural and social life. The European Music Council’s (EMC) thoughts are with all those who have suffered bereavement and sincerely hopes that anyone sadly affected by the virus gets well soon.
Censorship in Europe? 39% of cases in Music
Issued February 2020
In line with first of the IMC’s 5 Music Rights “The right for all children and adults to express themselves musically in all freedom”, the EMC would like to strengthen this right again and calls on European decision makers to ensure that musical and artistic expression is guaranteed across Europe and beyond. Freedom of musical and artistic expression is key to a culturally diverse, open, democratic and free Europe.
Joint statement on Brexit and a cultural way forward, together
Issued January 2020
Collaborations in Europe have been through turbulent times before; Europe has overcome many severe crises and has bridged deep divisions in the past. And today, now that United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union has become a reality, we, foundations & cultural institutions working in Europe respond by strengthening our ties.
Joint letter in support of a sectorial focus on music in Creative Europe (2021-2027)
Issued November 2019
Ahead of the EU Council discussion on the future Creative Europe programme, the EMC joins forces with other music organisations calling for a reinforces focus on music in the sectorial actions.
Culture is back!
Issued November 2019
The EMC welcomes the announcement that "culture" was re-introduced in the title of Commissioner-designate Mariya Gabriel, which now says "Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth". The European Parliament approved the European Commission which will start their term on 1 December 2019.
Creative Europe 2021-2027: Investing in our culture is investing in our future
Issued November 2019 (updated December 2019)
The EMC supports this open letter by 90 organisations from the cultural and creative sector. It calls on the EU council to support the proposal of the European Parliament to increase the budget of Creative Europe to 2.8bn Euro.
Spell it out: Culture! Here we go again...
Issued November 2019
In this statement, the EMC asks to re-introduce the term culture in the title of the designated Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, that is currently missing in her title “Innovation and Youth” in reaction to the information note of the Italian delegation prior to the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council meeting on 21-22 November 2019.
Securing a sustainable future for the European non-profit sector
Issued October 2019
As a member of Culture Action Europe, the EMC supports this statement about the future of the European non-profit sector and their participation in Creative Europe and other EU funding programmes.
EMC Members decide on Climate Action
Issued September 2019
EMC members unanimously decided that EMC will take action in its activities to help achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century as enshrined in the Paris Agreement.
Music sector calls on MEPs to support strong budget for 3rd edition of Music Moves Europe
Issued September 2019
In this letter to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), the EMC supports the call to support a strong budget for the third edition of the Preparatory Action Music Moves Europe.
Spell it out: Culture!
Issued September 2019
In this statement, the EMC asks to re-introduce the term culture in the title of the designated Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, that is currently missing in her title “Innovation and Youth”.
Open letter to Members of the European Parliament
Issued June 2019
In this letter, the EMC encourages newly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to engage with music and culture in their up-coming term and invites them to defend a vision of a cultural Europe, one that is free, open, diverse, inclusive and democratic.
Joint Statement on the Copyright Directive (update 15 March 2019)
Issued March 2019
271 European & international organisations representing artists, journalists, publishers, agencies and producers from all artistic fields call on the EU institutions to adopt the Copyright Directive
Joint Statement on the Copyright Directive
Issued March 2019
246 European & international organisations representing artists, journalists, publishers, agencies and producers from all artistic fields call on the EU institutions to adopt the Copyright Directive
Joint Statement on the Copyright Directive
Issued February 2019
30 European & international organisations representing artists, journalists, publishers, agencies and producers from all artistic fields call on the EU institutions to adopt the Copyright Directive
Joint Statement on the revision of the Visa code
Issued December 2018
75 organisations from the cultural sector joined forces in a call to the European Institutions to take into consideration the specific needs of the sector in the context of the trilogue negotiations on the Revision of the Visa Code.
Cultural & Creative Sectors' call to boost Creative Europe
Issued November 2018
Joint call from 80 organisations to boost the Creative Europe Programme ahead of the vote of the Budget Committee of the European Parliament on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021 - 2027 on 5 November 2018.
Joint Statement on EU Cohesion Policy
Issued September 2018
In their Position Paper from 17 September 2018 the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts states that the EU Cohesion Policy must adopt a citizen-oriented approach with a prominent place for culture.
Statement on the proposal for a Copyright Directive
Issued July 2018
Following the initiative of many organisations of the music sector, the EMC supports the call to vote in favour of the Legal Affairs Committee Report on the proposal for a Copyright Directive in the European Union.
Joint Statement on EU Funding Programmes
Issued June 2018
In their Position Paper from 18 June 2018 the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts states that culture, arts and heritage must be included in and financially supported within major EU funding programmes.
Joint statement on the EU culture budget
Issued April 2018
The signatories of this letter, drafted on an initiative of Impala, want to remind the representatives of the European Commission, European Council and the European Parliament the place of culture in the EU budget ahead of the presentation by the European Commission of its draft Regulation for the post-2020 MFF in May 2018.
Joint Statement on Music Moves Europe
Issued March 2018
Seizing the momentum, the EMC joined IMPALA and a broad range of organisations in this letter directed to all institutions urging the EU to support a dedicated European Music Programme.
Post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework: Call for a Substantial and Meaningful Support for Culture and the Arts as Generators of an EU Added Value
Issued January 2018
Having followed the Commission’s high-level conference on the future MFF-framework on 8-9 January 2018 as well as discussions in the European Parliament, the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts calls on the European institutions and Members States to ensure substantial support for culture, the arts and heritage within the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Joint Statement on European Commission's Communication "Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture"
Issued November 2017
Today, following the initiative of Council President Donald Tusk on the Leaders’ Agenda, EU heads of state and government come together in Gothenburg, Sweden for a debate on culture and education. The European Alliance for Culture and the Arts very much welcomes this meeting and the attention paid by heads of states and government to the importance of education and culture.
Joint Statement on Culture in Regions and Cities
Issued October 2017
In the run up of the European Week of Regions and Cities, the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts addresses the crucial role that regions and cities should play at the European level.
Joint Statement on the Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe
Issued June 2017
In the context of the wider debate on the future of the European Union, the European Alliance for Culture and the Arts welcomes the Commission’s Reflection Paper on the Social Dimension of Europe.
G7 Cultural Summit: Open Letter to the Cultural Ministers of France, Italy and Germany
Issued March 2017
We call upon the cultural ministers of the G7 group to include culture in the newly upcoming fundamental discussion on Europe’s future and to appeal to other member states and the EU institutions to put culture at the heart of European policies.
Culture at the Heart of a Sustainable Europe: Political Statement on the Occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Rome Treaties
Issued January 2017
60 years ago, the treaties of Rome prepared the ground for the European Union. When celebrating their 60th anniversary in March this year, Member States will have the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to fundamental European values whilst creating a new understanding of a sustainable European project, deeply grounded in the European societies.
No Sustainable Development without Culture
Issued December 2016
The European Alliance for Culture and the Arts appeals to include culture, arts and creative work in the the European Commission’s new strategy for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations (the 2030 Agenda).
EMC Statement on the UK's EU Referendum by EMC Chairman Ian Smith
Issued June 2016
The EMC highly regrets the referendum but will further advocate for open borders for musicians in Europe!
EMC Statement on the foreseen Closure of the EUYO
Issued May 2016
The Annual Meeting of members of the EMC regrets the decision taken to close the EUYO (European Union Youth Orchestra) and appeals to the European Union and other funding bodies to ensure the continuing operation of the orchestra.
EMC Statement on the TTIP Negotiations
Issued December 2015
The European Music Council welcomes the EU’s commitment to the protection and promotion of cultural diversity within the TTIP negotiations and underlines to keep culture completely out of the TTIP negotiations.
EMC Statement on Cultural Diversity as a Reaction to the Recent Developments in Europe
Issued October 2015
The European Music Council calls upon the political leaders of the European Union to embrace a culturally united Europe as an open concept where solidarity and humanity are the guiding principles rather than foreclosure and exclusion.