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It has been revealed that a proposal to exempt performers for 90 days from the cost and burden of EU work permits was rejected by the UK during Brexit negotiations.
The UK government maintains that it “pushed for a more ambitious deal that would have covered musicians and others, but our proposals were rejected by the EU”.
However, a European source close to the negotiations said The independent: “ It is generally in our agreements with third countries that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but… the UK refused to accept because it said it was ending freedom of movement. It is wrong to say that they asked for something more ambitious. The source added: “There must be reciprocity.”
The revelation comes after warnings from musicians’ unions that future tours should be abandoned if visas become necessary – a very unwelcome situation for musicians who have already lost their livelihood due to the impact of Covid-19.
From this month, UK musicians, like non-EU artists, must apply for visas to work in EU countries for more than 30 days, along with proof of savings and a certificate of sponsorship an event organizer.
According to The independent, the UK requested a similar 30-day exemption for its performers, but rejected 90 days in order to comply with its own new rules.
Read: ISM calls on government to cover additional costs for musicians in no-deal Brexit
Read: UK Musicians’ Union requests special tour visa for musicians after Brexit
Read: Report calls for freedom of movement after Brexit
Ministers have been asked to disclose exactly what happened during negotiations, after they appear to have blamed Brussels for failing to remove bureaucratic work permits for touring musicians.
Responding to the revelations, Horace Trubridge, General Secretary of the Musicians Union, said: ‘With the UK music industry devastated by Covid-19 and with no end in sight to the black hole of canceled concerts, tours, of the festivals and concerts that are the very foundation of our world-class industry, the news, if true, that our own elected officials have chosen to turn down such an offer is almost unbelievable.
Trubridge continued: ‘The Union is asking the Culture Minister to urgently confirm one way or another whether it was the UK government that blocked the deal that would have given UK musicians access. easily to EU states for tours. As it stands, touring EU states for UK musicians is going to require expensive administration and lengthy bureaucracy.
“The UM is also advising MPs to ask questions of the government and to give real support to live artists and independent musicians who remain without financial assistance during the lockdown.”
ISM chief executive Deborah Annetts said: ‘ISM and the rest of the music industry are dismayed by the shocking reports that the UK government has rejected an EU offer to remove permits bureaucratic work for touring UK musicians, contrary to ministerial statements. in Parliament last week.
‘If this information is true we are considering a serious breach of trust after the government provided multiple assurances throughout 2020 that it understood the importance of frictionless travel for UK musicians and would negotiate a ambitious agreement to achieve this goal. ”
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