MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Working conditions of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors and industries – E-000809/2025(ASW)

Improving artists’ working conditions remains a priority for the Commission. It is explicitly mentioned in the mission letter to the Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport and will be addressed in the EU strategic framework for culture, the ‘Culture Compass’. The Commission is regularly in touch with stakeholders, notably with relevant social partners via the EU sectoral social dialogues.

The Commission is following up on the actions set out in its reply[1] to the European Parliament. It analysed regulatory gaps with social partners’ involvement, organised mutual learning activities on social protection, gathered further evidence[2] on undeclared work and further improved the EU-funded online information resource[3] on artists’ working conditions. The Commission will organise a high-level round table with relevant stakeholders to determine the scope for further EU action.

The Commission supports Member States in the implementation of the 2019 Council recommendation on access to social protection[4].

It also covers artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors and monitors the implementation of EU labour law directives[5] setting minimum standards to protect the working conditions of workers in employment relationships, including intermittent workers[6].

• [1] Commission reply to the European Parliament’s legislative initiative report of 21 February 2024 on an EU framework for the social and professional situation of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sectors.
• [2] https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/news/creative-sectors-ela-study-reveals-precarious-working-conditions-and-undeclared-labour
• [3] https://creativesunite.eu/work-condition
• [4] Council Recommendation on access to social protection for workers and the self-employed: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/GA/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019H1115(01)
• [5] https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/rights-work/labour-law_en
• [6] See in particular Council Directive 1999/70/EC of 28 June 1999 concerning the framework agreement on fixed-term work: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1999/70/oj/eng