(VIP-NEWS) – The European Union has ruled out introducing new concessions to make it easier for British artists touring Europe, saying fundamental changes to existing EU regulations are needed.
The decision is a major blow to the UK’s Labour government, which has issued a statement promising to prioritise removing barriers facing British artists after Brexit.
Ahead of this year’s general election, Labour promised to address the difficulties British musicians and artists now face when touring in the EU, including new travel permits, vouchers and restrictions on merchandise sales.
However, according to internal EU documents seen by the SAMA, officials say any deal would require a rewrite of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement, as well as changes to EU customs, road transport and services rules. The European Commission has made clear it is not prepared to make such changes.
The news complicates Labour’s strategy to improve relations with the EU, particularly on trade and mobility. While the Labour government has expressed optimism about securing better terms for British artists, EU insiders warn that progress on this front could be limited unless the UK is prepared to make concessions in other areas. One such proposal, a youth mobility scheme that would allow EU and UK citizens under 30 to work and travel in each other’s territories, was recently rejected by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Paul Adamson of the EU-UK Forum suggested that Labour could still achieve some of its goals if it was willing to compromise. He suggested that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen might be open to negotiations, given her previous willingness to strike deals. However, any significant new agreement with the EU could risk a backlash from voters who remain wary of any reversal of Brexit policies, including some Labour supporters.
Since Brexit, British artists have struggled with new bureaucracy, including different requirements in each EU country for travel and touring. Despite ongoing negotiations and some minor improvements, many challenges remain, and hopes of major progress under Labour appear to be fading. Both the UK government and the EU are expected to maintain their positions as formal negotiations approach later this year, although some experts believe that concessions may emerge as the negotiations progress.
The Labour government now faces a difficult balancing act: trying to deliver on its promise to help artists in the UK while managing political sensitivities around any deeper cooperation with the EU.
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