FLAVOUR OF THE DECADE?

There is a need for more focus on cultural and creative industries (CCIs). This is the essential message in a recent Opinion adopted by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). Whilst the share of manufacturing industries in the European economy diminishes, culture and creativity are essential assets for Europe's future. CCIs – investments, jobs – are expected to grow disproportionately. In its Opinion on the Commission's Green Paper "Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries", the EESC calls for an "internal market" and a "European space" for creativity. To that end, the Committee pleads for a better definition of the sector, for more accurate statistics and for attention for the social impact of creativity clusters. Among the main aspects to take into account, the Committee mentions the requirement to offset the vulnerability of the sector's businesses –especially SMEs– and the shaping of a "critical mass" of investments, smart tax concessions, new funding models and instruments and the protection of intellectual property. It can also be useful to draw up Europe-wide business plan guidelines for creative projects/services/works, as well as performance indicators.