Participants discussed the significant cuts in public funds stemming from the global crisis that have put performing arts in a difficult financial situation over the past three years in several European countries, said Geza Kovacs, chairman of the Association of Hungarian Symphonic Orchestras and director-general of the Hungarian National Philharmonic.

The crisis has hit most members, with the exception of Germany, France and the Scandinavian nations, he said. Kovacs added that in some countries the wages of artists and administrative employees had been cut by 20 to 30 percent and the number of performances, matinees and music training programmes had to be reduced.
The participants elected France's Catherine Baumann president of Pearle.