Recommendation 13

HM Government Rejected

The Government believes that the proposal of an EU-wide visa waiver is unviable. The EU did not offer a visa waiver for paid activities during the Trade and Cooperation Agreement negotiations. Instead, a reciprocal visa waiver agreement was offered, covering all current and any future Member States for short stays, for example, as a tourist. This remains incompatible with the Government’s manifesto commitment to take control of our borders, and nor would it meet the sector’s needs. The Government recognises that the way creative workers work in the EU has changed, and the sector will need to adapt to new requirements now we are no longer a Member State. Committed to supporting the sector to adapt to these new arrangements, the Government has worked extensively with the sector and directly with Member States to clarify what creative workers need to do to help them resume touring with confidence. The UK took an ambitious approach during negotiations with the EU that would have ensured that touring artists and their support staff did not need work permits to perform in the EU, for up to 90 days in 6 months, and that event hauliers could move freely. Regrettably, our proposals were rejected by the EU. The Government’s trade deal with the three European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries (Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) ensures that touring artists and their support staff do not need work permits. This demonstrates that the offer made to the EU by the Government is workable. Following engagement by the UK Government and the sector, almost all EU Member States have confirmed that UK musicians and performers do not need visas or work permits for some short-term touring. This includes the UK’s most important touring markets, such as France, Germany and the Netherlands; and also Spain, which introduced 90-day visa- and work permit- free touring in November 2021. Regarding EU citizens coming to the UK, the UK’s rules for touring creative professionals are comparatively more generous than in many EU Member States. The UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists (and their technical staff) from non-visa national countries, such as EU Member States and the US, to perform in the UK without requiring a visa, and the UK does not have work-permits. Ultimately, only Member States can change their visa rules beyond what is required of their membership of the Schengen Area. If Member States are willing to change their rules to more closely reflect the UK’s arrangements, the Government would encourage them to do so.