JOINT PRESS RELEASE: European organisations of authors welcome the final adoption of the Copyright Directive and call on EU Member States to seize this historical opportunity to improve the livelihoods of all authors and foster Europe’s creativity
Brussels, 15 April 2019
On 15 April 2019, the Council of the European Union formally adopted the Copyright Directive. Following the European Parliament’s landmark vote on 26 March 2019, this final approval concludes the legislative process and paves the way for the implementation of the Directive in all EU Member States.
The undersigned organisations of authors welcome the Council’s approval and congratulate the European Parliament, Member States and the European Commission for their intensive efforts in reaching such a positive and historical outcome, which honors Europe’s shared values and its investment in cultural diversity and creative talents. In particular, we warmly thank the European Parliament, which played a decisive role in strengthening the Directive’s provisions addressing the systemic weak bargaining position of authors in negotiating contracts, and promoting fair remuneration.
Our organisations and their members now call on all EU Member States to engage in an ambitious and constructive implementation of the Directive so that it honors its promises to improve the livelihoods of all authors and foster Europe’s creativity.
The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance (ECSA)represents over 50,000 professional composers and songwriters in 27 European countries. With 57 member organizations across Europe, the Alliance speaks for the interests of music creators of art & classical music (contemporary), film & audiovisual music, as well as popular music. Web: www.composeralliance.org– EU Transparency Register ID: 71423433087-91
EWC, founded in 1977 in Germany and newly constituted in 2006 in Brussels as an international non-profit organisation, the European Writers’ Council is the federation of 45 European national organisations of professional writers and literary translators in all genres in 34 countries. EWC’s members represent more than 160,000 authors in the book sector. Web: www.europeanwriterscouncil.eu– EU Transparency Register ID: 56788289570-24.
The Federation of European Film Directors (FERA), founded in 1980, represents film and TV directors at European level, with 43 directors’ associations as members from 33 countries. We speak for more than 20,000 European screen directors, representing their cultural, creative and economic interests. Web: www.filmdirectors.eu– EU Transparency Register ID: 29280842236-21
The Federation of Screenwriters Europe is a network of national and regional associations, guilds and unions of writers for the screen in Europe, created in June 2001. It comprises 25 organisations from 19 countries, representing more than 7,000 screenwriters in Europe. Web: www.scenaristes.org– EU Transparency Register ID: 642670217507-74
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