At the plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament accepted its proposals for EU measures aimed at improving the living and working conditions of professionals working in the arts, culture and creative sectors, according to which the MEPs, among other things, call for better working conditions, a fair wage level and stronger social protection, the EU Parliament announced. on Tuesday.

In the legislative initiative adopted with 433 votes, 100 against, and 99 abstentions, the MEPs emphasized that the differences between the member states’ social systems, the different definitions of artists in each member state, and the rules for self-employed workers create unfair conditions.

They drew attention to the fact that the sector does not receive adequate protection, as it is characterized by atypical working methods, irregular incomes and weaker social bargaining power. All this can lead to underpaid or unpaid work, fake self-employment and the forcing of buyout contracts, they wrote. According to representatives, new digital technologies such as generative artificial intelligence also present challenges for artists and cultural workers.

In its proposal, the EU Parliament called on the European Commission to create a framework that combines legislative and non-legislative instruments to improve social and professional conditions to create a fair and equal situation for all EU artists and cultural professionals.

MEPs want this framework to include, among other things, a directive on fair working conditions and the definition of employment status for professionals working in the cultural and creative sectors. EU programs funding creative and cultural professionals would be adjusted so that the EU and the beneficiaries are obliged to comply with international, EU, national and collective labor and social obligations.

After the presentation of the proposals, the European Commission has three months to respond and inform the EU Parliament of the planned steps, or to give reasons why it is not willing to make a legislative proposal in accordance with the EP’s request.