The culture came in Brexit negotiations, short of, say, Olaf Zimmermann, managing Director of the German cultural Council. Because it was not negotiated at all. The Brexit agreement fail, there is a need for a Plan B.
Deutsche Welle: Mr. Zimmermann, in spite of all the negotiations, a hard Brexit now threatens. Are you nervous?
Olaf Zimmermann: I think we should all be nervous, because nobody knows exactly what that ultimately means. The Brexit is generally bad for all of us. But the less regulated and the less we can draw a fairly reasonable tracks, the more difficult it will be for all. And this is also true for the field of culture.
The culture came in the Brexit negotiations?
Yeah (laughs) – because they had not negotiated! We have the urges again and again, in the case of the Federal government. We said, look at what this means for the exchange in the cultural field. We have always been put off so that they could not enter into special negotiations. I’ve even understanding: You can’t take individual portions out before the negotiations, in principle, have been completed. But now we have a mess because of this kind of agreement in principle so far. And it is unclear whether it will come to that. Nevertheless, I still have hope.
As the show started, with the Brexit, they demanded a “special program of bilateral cultural exchange”. What was your heart?
People, especially in the area of culture, a lot of traveling back and forth to work in different places. London is one of the most important cultural places in the world. Quite a lot of artists from Europe working in the Central Hotspot of the art. For this, we need to find rules, even if the UK belongs to the European Union. Very important is also the educational exchange. Many young people are studying in the UK. To many this is only possible because you are studying as an EU citizen. Of course, You can study as a Non-EU citizen, but this is not only significantly more expensive, but much, much, much more expensive! Also for this principle is the problem we need a solution.
And what about the cooperation of German and British cultural institutions?
Europe flags in front of the building of the European Commission in Brussels
I hope it will be reasonable to run. The UK is far too important for Europe, especially culturally, than we could say: Well, now, it didn’t work, then we will write the simple. That’s not the point! But at some point you will need to think about what a hard exit means. And if you do not need to reach for the culture of the area special regulations. Because we should each avoid drifting Apart from the Rest of Europe and the UK. The culture is the great Chance to get more Connections to maintain, where it is in the economic area.
In the absence of an agreement, who the consequences will be felt the most?
All will feel this. We have demand in all industries. From music and Publishing industry to the computer area of the game – all will suffer. There is no one who says: If we come to a Brexit, it is positive for us, we would have a strategic advantage. No, no one will be the beneficiaries. Therefore, we need to mitigate that, no matter how it goes, as much as possible.
You speak for the merger of the German cultural associations. Which Embassy you apply now – shortly before the gates closing to the Federal government?
So far, this is the business of the European Commission. The results of the negotiations. And if you are not successful, we can’t just move on to the next item. Then the national States are also required, also our Federal government.
This means that you can claim compensation?
At least they have to meet, in an emergency, then bilateral agreements. We can not say bad, The big Deal does not succeed, so we make no deal at all. But we should have the possible nightmare scenario in the back of the head, namely, a real foreclosure.
Better would be: There is a Deal. And if you have made this Deal, it leads to reasonable negotiations for the saves area, also for the culture. But if that doesn’t work, there must be a Plan B.
The Deutsche Kulturrat e. V. is the umbrella Association of the German Federal cultural associations. He sees himself as a point of contact between politics and administration in cross-sectoral cultural-political Affairs.
The interview was conducted by Stefan Dege.