"After several weeks of crisis, we already have a lot of evidence that indicates that the cultural sector is one of the most plagued. It has been one of the first to be affected and will be one of the last to reactivate if we do not strongly support it as soon as they allow it. health requirements ", stated the Minister of Culture and Sport, who recalled that culture is a fundamental economic engine for Europe that contributes more than 3% to the EU's GDP and that it is called to play a key role in reviving it of our economy when we can finally get back to normal.
"Culture is a basic necessity, a fundamental right of citizens, for their individual and collective development, for coexistence and social cohesion. Culture is what is allowing us today to cope with isolation at home, feeding our minds , our hearts and our hope, "said the minister.
For Rodríguez Uribes, the situation presented by this global pandemic requires a united and solidary response from the European Union, with the common work of all its Member States: "All united we are stronger and only united we will emerge from this crisis. Share Information, coordinated actions, exchanges of experiences and the very activity of the European institutions are an added value that we must take advantage of. They are the first step for the solution, but of course not the only one ".
"This crisis is also an opportunity to strengthen culture as a central element in European construction policies and make it one of the economic engines of recovery and structuring in Europe," added the Minister of Culture.
Measures for the Cultural and Creative Industries sectors
Focusing on the implications of the Covid-19 crisis in the creative and cultural industries, Rodríguez Uribes has ensured that the Government of Spain has included explicit references to the creative and cultural industries from the outset in the general, transversal and inclusive measures adopted for the fight against COVID-19.
"From the Ministry of Culture we are working with the different sectors of the Cultural and Creative Industries to design measures to reactivate culture, when health requirements allow it, and to revitalize the activity by designing specific policies to encourage ICCs. , while protecting creators, artists and other cultural professionals, as we already do within the framework of the 200,000 million euros mobilized to help workers, companies and self-employed workers from all sectors of the economy, "said Rodríguez Uribes.
At the European level, the minister believes it is essential to strengthen the Structural Funds and provide Creative Europe with more financing, for example, to intensify the role of its guarantee instrument. "In any case, these circumstances must be present in the new program and include ad hoc measures."
Finally, the minister thanked the generosity of the cultural industries to bring culture to the homes, recalling the risk that digital piracy currently poses, threatening one of the few income streams that continue to function for ICCs in full swing. COVID crisis 19.
"One of the primary reasons why we want fast and capable digital networks is to enjoy and learn with cultural content. The approval last year of the Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market is a first and fundamental step to reestablish balancing the value chain of the digital economy and guaranteeing a fair economic return to European CCIs ", Rodríguez Uribes recalled.
"We must support culture, now and after the crisis, so that it is a source of economic wealth and as a sure value that guides us and shelters us against future crises in defense of public ethics, democracy and human rights," Rodríguez Uribes concluded.
