Brussels, 17/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - The Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of Ministers will place great importance on supporting the cultural and creative industries, and will attempt to find solutions to better protect the integrity of sport.
Last week, the minister for culture, Sarunas Birutis, and the minister for home affairs (sport and leisure), Dailis Alfonsas Barakauskas, presented MEPs at the European Parliament's culture committee with the Lithuanian Presidency's priorities in their respective areas of responsibility for the next six months.
Culture/Audiovisual. The cultural and creative industries are doing rather well and their role in helping create growth and jobs is essential. In this context, Lithuania will seek to find ways to support the sector, which accounts for 6% of GDP and employs 7 million people, Birutis pointed out. The Lithuanian Presidency also wants to develop a common position to enter into force as soon as possible for the new programme on European capitals of culture. The Presidency will formally present the EP with a proposal for adopting the future “Creative Europe” programme. Birutis is “not very happy” with the reduction in the budget for Creative Europe and hopes that the financial envelope will help to support innovative projects. He will also lead a debate on the Commission's proposal to revise the directive on the restitution of cultural objects that have illegally left a country's territory. In the audiovisual arena, Lithuania will begin a debate on the influence of new information and communication technologies on the audiovisual landscape and, at the centre, connected television. The resolution recently adopted by the EP on connected television will serve as a basis for discussions, explained the minister. Pluralism and freedom of the media will also be at central to ministers' attention during the informal meeting planned for 3 October. The Presidency will be organising discussions on broadcasting digital content and the challenges that have arisen as a result of this development.
Sport. The Lithuanian Presidency will focus on a number of points: sport, a benchmark of good health; the contribution of sport to inclusive growth; good management in sport and the fight against doping. Under the Lithuanian Presidency, the Council will discuss, next November, a recommendation from the Commission on best practices and exchanges of practice to promote better health through sport. They will also adopt conclusions on sport's contribution to economic stability and growth in an inclusive society. Discussions have also been planned on good management in sport, whose basic criteria should be integrity and transparent accounts. The fight against doping will once again be at the centre of the Council's attention. The code adopted in the fight against doping by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WAA) will be revised next November and the Presidency is keen for the European Union to present a common position in discussions. In addition to doping, fixing the results of sports events is another huge threat to the integrity of sport and the Presidency will be focusing the greatest attention on this issue. (IL/transl.fl)