UK rejected visa-free travel for touring musicians in the EU – yet blamed Brussels for permit blow
Ministers are now being called upon to reveal exactly what took place during negotiations. It has been revealed that a proposal to exempt performers for 90 days from the cost and burden of EU work permits was turned down by the UK during Brexit negotiations.
The UK Government is arguing it ‘pushed for a more ambitious agreement which would have covered musicians and others, but our proposals were rejected by the EU’.
However, an EU source close to the negotiations told The Independent: ‘It is usually in our agreements with third countries, that [work] visas are not required for musicians. We tried to include it, but…the UK refused to agree because they said they were ending freedom of movement. It is untrue to say they asked for something more ambitious.’
