Pearle* presents its views on temporary legal migration and calls for an EU initiative on highly-mobile third-country nationals such as artists and cultural professionals

Ref P7986

Brussels, 21 September 2021

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At a time where European institutions discuss the Commission’s ‘New Pact on Migration and Asylum’, and agreed on new rules for highly skilled workers in the EU blue card directive, Pearle*-Live Performance Europe presents it views on “temporary economic legal migration”. The paper describes the case for the live performance; it highlights an urgent need to establish a well-functioning system responding to the operations of economic sectors that rely on third-country nationals for short stays, who are moving in and out and around the EU and the Schengen area.

Now that touring becomes possible again and the live performance organisations are programming the calendar for the next months and year(s), it is crucial for the sector to be able to rely on a smooth migration policy for third-country national artists and cultural professionals to travel in and out the Schengen zone and inside the EU to undertake their professional activities.

“A migration policy for highly-mobile third-country nationals will provide the necessary oxygen to build resilience in the sector, which is much needed after 20 months of fully or semi-closed cultural activity. We need to be able to access those talents and skills on a permanent basis in an easy way”, says Anita Debaere, Director of Pearle*.

Third-country nationals doing business and working temporarily in the EU contribute in an important way to the European economy. Specific initiatives and a coordinated approach for this category of legitimate travellers would be a step in the right direction.

The Pearle* paper describes the specific issues at stake for a sector like the live performance, the EU initiatives over time and makes valuable suggestions for an EU initiative.

Read the full text here.