At European industrial relations observatory (EIRO) on-line you can browse European industrial relations news for performing artists back to 1997 at: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/sector_index.html
The site also describes a report from Sweden: "A government-commissioned report, published in March 2003, examines the problems faced by professional artists in the Swedish social security, unemployment insurance and tax systems. According to the report, these problems are often caused by a lack of knowledge and understanding on the part of the relevant authorities regarding artists’ working and living conditions. Increased competence and a more coordinated handling of artists’ cases could resolve many of the problems, the commissioner states." http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2003/07/feature/se0307102f.html  

www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int