The UK live music industry’s main trade body has dismissed the Government’s claims that musicians and performers can now benefit from visa-free short-term touring in 19 European Union member states.
In a statement published this week, the Department for Culture, Media and Sports said that following talks with EU member states, UK musicians and performers do not now need visas or work permits for short-term tours. This applies to major markets such as France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands and 15 other markets.
The development follows years of concerns about how the UK’s departure from the EU could impact those musicians who have previously been able to travel around the continent and work.
However, LIVE chief executive Greg Parmley said there is “nothing new” in the latest announcement.
“There are no new ‘frictionless’ agreements and in reality, this is only a very small piece in a much bigger touring puzzle, and substantial financial and bureaucratic barriers remain that disproportionately disadvantage smaller and emerging artists,” Parmley said.
The group is calling for the long-term return of frictionless, cost-free arrangements for short-term paid work across the EU. LIVE also wants the urgent introduction of a Transitional Support Package (TSP), to safeguard the future of the live music industry in the short term, including financial support to help touring artists with new additional costs.
Parmley added: “We fully support the Government’s ongoing negotiations, but until then they must introduce a Transitional Support Package, to safeguard the future of the live music industry while we wait for their ‘ambitious proposals’ to be realised.”
The UK Government said visa-free touring for three months is also now possible in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden. It also said it is in talks with the other EU member states.
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