Brexit: movement of people in the cultural sector

The United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee published a report Brexit: movement of people in the cultural sector on the 26 July 2018. The report identified the potential impact on the cultural sector of post-Brexit immigration restrictions.

Note that the original title of the Home Affairs Sub-Committee inquiry was Brexit: movement of people in the fields of sport and culture inquiry. In the event the 'sport' dimension is not covered in the report but see here.

Further information

In March of 2017, the Committee published a report on 'Brexit: UK-EU movement of people', in which it examined possible arrangements for the movement of EU citizens to the UK after the UK had left the EU, with a view to identifying the main choices available to the Government and their likely implications.

This new report built on the previous one, and considered the implications for the cultural sector of some of the possible changes to free movement that the Committee outlined.

Key findings

+ The cultural sector made a profoundly important contribution to the UK's society and economy, and to its international image and influence. Cultural sector workers were highly mobile, and had thrived on collaboration with people from all over the world.
+ The report argued that the cultural sector urgently needed more clarity on free movement post-Brexit. The Government wished to 'take back control' of the UK's borders by ending the free movement of persons. However, by the time of writing, it had provided little detail about what this would mean in practice.
+ Despite the lack of detail about the Government's plans, the Committee suggested that future immigration from the EU to the UK would be shaped by one of two broad imperatives. The UK immigration system would either give preferential treatment to EU27 citizens, or treat them in the same way as people from third countries.
+ The Committee recommended that the Government be flexible. The UK's negotiators must recognise that any restrictions on EU citizens wishing to enter the UK may be matched by restrictions on UK workers in the EU. A decline in skilled workers from the EU would not only damage the UK's cultural sector, but also represent a significant loss to the audiences that benefit when talented people from across Europe perform in the UK.

The Guardian, 26.07.18: Brexit: arts will suffer without freedom of movement, say Lords https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/26/brexit-arts-will-suffer-without-freedom-of-movement-say-lords

UK: Parliament: House of Lords: Committees: EU Select Committee: News, 26.07.18: Clarity needed on movement of people in the cultural sector after Brexit https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-home-affairs-subcommittee/news-parliament-2017/movement-people-cultural-sector-report/

The UK in a Changing Europe 22.02.18: Why a £28bn industry needs a soft Brexit without delay http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-a-28bn-industry-needs-a-soft-brexit-without-delay/

United Kingdom: House of Commons: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee: 2nd Report (2017-19) HC365: The potential impact of Brexit on the creative industries, tourism and the digital single market http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-potential-impact-of-brexit-on-the-creative-industries-tourism-and-the-digital-single-market/

The Conversation, 24.11.17: Why Brexit should not stop UK cities from competing for European Capital of Culture http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-brexit-should-not-stop-uk-cities-from-competing-for-european-capital-of-culture/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

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