PEDRO ALMODOVAR - ALMODOVAR CALLS ON EU TO KEEP GADGET TAX

ALMODOVAR CALLS ON EU TO KEEP GADGET TAX

Spanish director PEDRO ALMODOVAR has urged European Union officials not to scrap a tax on gadgets which helps to fund performers and artists on the continent. The tax, which affects everything from MP3 players to blank CDs, was introduced in the 1960s to offset the anticipated piracy impact of blank tapes. And the executive committee of the European Union is considering whether it should allow governments to implement a clause which gives them the right to abandon the tax, which brings in an estimated 560 million euros ($675 million/GBP375 million) every year. But the TALK TO HER film-maker insists scrapping the source of income for artistic pursuits will have a damaging effect on European culture. He says, "I am concerned that the proposed reforms may threaten this source of remuneration as well as the financing of my cultural activities that contribute to the creation and promotion of European works."