Impact Study: UNESCO-Aschberg Programme for Artists and Cultural Professionals

A far more serious obstacle than ENTs and qualification requirements is the issue of EU visas and requirements for artists and cultural professionals. Entering the EU on transparent and facilitated conditions is critical, as the principal mode of delivery of cultural services by CARIFORUM States is the movement of natural persons, such as for live performances and other events. It is also in this regard that the EPA has been deemed to be truly progressive in terms of market access and in the implementation of the 2005 Convention’s Article 16. Short-stay visas are not only relevant for entertainment services providers, but apply to CARIFORUM cultural practitioners that request entry to the EU for non-commercial purposes, as stipulated under the PCC. Short-stay visas, also called ‘Schengen visas’, because they have been regulated under the Schengen Agreement, cover 22 EU Member States (notably without Ireland and the United Kingdom 28 , Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania) and 4 non- EU States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). The Schengen visa allows its holder to enter the Schengen territory for a maximum stay of 90 days within a six-month period for tourismor business purposes; the visa may be issued for one or more entries and for travel around the Schengen area. Despite the fact that the Schengen regime is harmonized at the EU level and although the EU has taken note of the request made by a number of Caribbean countries to waive the EU visa requirements altogether, not all Caribbean countries can benefit from the regime. Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Saint Lucia have a short-stay visa waiver agreement with all EU Member States, except the United Kingdom and Ireland. For stays longer than threemonths and/or stays to take up gainful employment, national visas must be issued. For the rest of the CARIFORUM States, one must apply for a short-stay visa at the consulate of the EU Member State.

28. In the UK, artists from some CARIFORUM States do not require a visa if they are coming to the UK as work permit holders for 6 months or less, or as Temporary Workers in the Creative and Sporting Category Tier 5 for less than 3 months. This is the case for the following CARIFORUM States: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. But even this regime can be fairly complicated and requires a UK firm as a sponsor. See The Music Sector and CARIFORUM-EU Trade Relations , Background Brief for the 3 rd CARIFORUM-European Union Business Forum, April 15-16, 2015.

48 Culture in the CARIFORUM-EU EPA