EU-UK Summit: Visa Waiver Agreement
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Earl of Clancarty
The Earl of Clancarty
To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to negotiate a visa waiver agreement for creative professionals touring the EU; and whether this will be on the agenda at the EU-UK summit on 19 May.
Baroness in Waiting/Government Whip (Baroness Blake of Leeds) (Lab)
My Lords, the Government are committed to a closer and more co-operative relationship with the EU. The UK-EU summit will be an important milestone towards a new strategic partnership, and we will provide further details on the agenda in due course. We are engaging constructively with the EU and member states to improve touring arrangements, allowing our artists to contribute to Europe’s rich cultural landscape and support shared growth while respecting the regulatory frameworks on both sides.
The Earl of Clancarty (CB)
My Lords, it is a little disappointing that the Government cannot confirm, with 11 days to go, whether touring will be on the agenda of the 19 May summit. Talking with other EU Culture Ministers is helpful—if this was discussed by Chris Bryant in Poland—but would the Minister not agree that, ultimately, this issue has to be resolved directly with the EU, not least because of the significant cross-border aspects to the problem? Cabotage is a major aspect of that. The Government promised to sort this; they need to do so.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
I thank the noble Earl for his continued interest and for putting us all under pressure on this important issue. I emphasise that supporting touring artists was a manifesto commitment for the Government a year ago. As such, it is a priority for the Government. We remain in constructive dialogue with the EU on tackling the challenges facing cultural and creative professionals and their support staff when touring in the EU, along with many other issues. It is a very important date in the diary, and we will provide details of the agenda in due course.
Europe: Arts and Creative Industries
Debate between Baroness Blake of Leeds and Earl of Clancarty
The Earl of Clancarty
To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to facilitate touring in, and trading with, Europe for the arts and creative industries.
Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)
My Lords, the Government fully recognise the scale of the challenges facing creative and cultural professionals wishing to tour in and trade with Europe. We are working to address these while resetting relationships and deepening ties with our European friends. In line with our manifesto, Ministers have raised touring with European counterparts on multiple occasions, and officials are collaborating across Whitehall with stakeholders and meeting their European counterparts to advocate for pragmatic solutions. This is a priority for the Government.
The Earl of Clancarty (CB)
My Lords, I welcome the Minister to her new role and thank her for the meeting we had with her. I hope that it was helpful in understanding that this affects not just music touring, important though that is, but the visual arts, craft, fashion and film. Without a commitment to rejoining the single market, how will the Government deal effectively with these pressing concerns and secure the place of our arts and creative industries in Europe?