Pages tagged "EM in the News"

  • UK Music Touring 'Slowly Dying' in Visa Red Tape

    Posted on News from European Movement UK by · September 04, 2024 12:43 PM

    While visas for musicians and youth mobility schemes are being used as negotiating tools between the UK and the EU, the reality is that musicians' livelihoods, and young people's futures, are at stake. 

    Last night, the FT reported that internal briefing documents at the European Commission stated that post-Brexit curbs on UK touring musicians will not be loosened. This will come as a bitter blow to thousands in the sector.  

    "Our industry is slowly dying. And I don't know what to do."  

    (Image: Shutterstock)

    Rachel Nicholls is one of the UK's leading opera singers. Before the UK left the EU, she would do 5 to 10 jobs in Europe every year.  

    "I think we're now out of the equation in terms of working in Europe and, although I'm freelance and British, up until Brexit I was working more in Europe than I was here.

    "Since leaving the EU, I've had one job there. One." 

    You can hear Rachel tell her story - alongside others affected in the industry - here. It comes as new research suggests almost 60% of UK musicians now say they can't tour in the EU. 

    Our campaign, Face The Music, urges the government to address the plight of musicians and other artists trying to work and tour in the EU. Labour pledged back in May, before being elected, to 'fix the European touring crisis,' by negotiating, 'an agreement on touring visas'.

    Our petition can be seen here. 

    Dr Mike Galsworthy, Chair of European Movement UK, said: 

    "The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, cannot get something for nothing in his EU negotiations. We really need him to be more ambitious on this front and open up conversations about mobility in general, which is what the British public want to see.  

    “Remember, it's not just musicians, it's theatre groups, fashion photographers, dancers, comedians and British culture in all of its wonderful dimensions. Brexit has boxed them in and it's time to tear down these walls. 

    “To tear down walls, the government should also be prepared to discuss a youth mobility deal with the EU. Our young people need this and the UK can’t just shut down an EU ask whilst expecting the EU to give the UK what we want. That’s not the way negotiations work.” 

    At a glance: 

    • 75% of musicians in a recent survey by the Musicians' Union said that their EU touring bookings had declined.  
    • 59% of musicians said that touring the EU was no longer financially viable. Visa waivers and musician passports were offered in the original Brexit agreement by the EU but rejected by the Conservative Government. 

    Hand-in-hand with the music sector, we will continue to campaign for the UK Government to Face the Music and find a solution to the issues facing musicians who want and need to tour Europe after Brexit.

    Read more

  • European Movement UK Delivers 30,000+ Signatures to New PM, Demanding Action on UK-EU Relations

    Posted on News from European Movement UK by · August 21, 2024 11:28 AM

    European Movement UK has presented the new Prime Minister with a petition signed by over 30,000 people, calling for immediate steps to rebuild the UK's relationship with the European Union.

    This comes as recent polls show 59% of Britons now favour rejoining the EU, signalling a clear shift in public opinion on the UK’s relationship with the EU.

    Key Points: 

    • 30,000+ signatures delivered to 10 Downing Street 
    • 59% of Brits now support rejoining the EU (YouGov)
    • Urgent call for government action as new political term begins 

    We are urging the new Prime Minister to capitalise on the momentum generated by the European Political Community Summit, calling on the new government to take concrete steps to reset the UK’s relations with European leaders. 

    [Image: European Movement UK]

    The petition, an open letter to Keir Starmer, outlines the key points of our Manifesto on Europe, a blueprint for rebuilding UK-EU relations published during the 2024 general election campaign.  

    The four points of the Manifesto on Europe are urging Starmer to: 

    1. Promote a pragmatic foreign policy which has at its heart the UK working in much closer collaboration with all our European neighbours.
    2. Recognise that European relations have been a divisive issue in British politics, we urge you to commission an independent ‘State of the Nation’ assessment of our future relations with Europe, with clear, objective analysis and recommendations to the Government as to how any improvements can be made, and proposing remedies for negative impacts Brexit is having on the UK economy and key cultural and societal sectors. 
    3. Seek deeper agreements with the EU on shared issues from defence to food safety to fighting climate change, establishing a new working framework with the European Union. 
    4. Put the rights of a generation hit hardest by Brexit first by opening negotiations with the European Union to restore the UK’s inclusion in Erasmus+ and accept the invitation to negotiate a bilateral youth mobility scheme. 

    Handing-in the petition were representatives of European Movement UK, European Movement in Scotland, Wales for Europe and Young European Movement UK.