Pearle*, the largest European performing arts organisation, releases the results of a mobility survey conducted among its members. The findings shed light on the significant administrative burdens faced by the sector when organising cross-border activities, and call for urgent simplifications to unlock the full potential of the European live performance sector.
The survey, conducted between September and December 2025, includes testimonies from performing arts organisations and demonstrates how complex and often opaque rules create significant challenges for organising cultural events across borders. These include cash flow problems, loss of income, and additional costs for expert support in areas such as social security, taxation, visas, transport, customs, and travelling with musical instruments.
To reduce the administrative burden, three key recommendations emerged:
- Consistency of rules and implementation across Member States
- Abolishment of high compliance costs
- A one-stop shop for administrative requirements
These recommendations align with recent initiatives of the European Commission, such as the ‘Competitiveness Compass’ (January 2025), the ‘Strategy on a Single Market’ (May 2025) and the ‘Cultural Compass’ (November 2025). In line with the Cultural Compass motto ‘Europe for Culture, Culture for Europ’ and the EU leaders’ commitment to ‘One Europe, One Market’ of February 2026, this report provides solutions for the EU and Member States to unleash the potential of live performance organisations.
