At the sectoral social dialogue committee meeting held on the 11th of June 2018, the European social partners in the Live Performance sector (including Pearle* – Live Performance Europe on the employers’ side; and the European Arts and Entertainment Alliance, constituted by the European trade union affiliates of FIA, FIM & EURO-MEI on the workers’ side) had an exchange with the European Commission, DG Energy on the topic of eco-design regulations and the possible impact on stage lighting.
The current EU lighting regulations (EU1194/2012 and related regulations) include an exemption for ‘studio lighting, show effect lighting, theatre lighting’. However, the new regulations proposed for September 2020 under the Ecodesign Working Plan 2016-2017 do not contain such an exemption for special purpose lights in theatres, concert halls and other venues. Whilst the social partners in the EU Live Performance sector support the EU’s general aim of reducing energy consumption for lighting, they strongly urged the Commission to consider the specificities of the live performance sector when it comes to the proposed revision of the EU lighting regulations and implementation of new rules on lighting.
The social partners in the EU Live Performance sector emphasised the serious economic, artistic and technical impacts the current proposal could have on the sector. The social partners also stated that they are committed to helping the European Commission to craft a suitable exemption, restricted to professional entertainment lighting products (PELP) in theatres, concert halls and other live performance venues, which is responsive to the professional needs and realities in the sector, while remaining appropriately narrow and limited.
The social partners will issue a joint declaration on the revision of the EU lighting regulations.
