Brussels, 15/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 July, the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (ECCD) called on recently elected MEPs to deliver “ambitious and appropriate responses in support of policies promoting cultural diversity” in their term of office. The coalitions point out that cultural diversity is part of the richness of European heritage, the expression of European identity and a driving force for the European economy. Therefore they call on MEPs to pursue five objectives: 1) ensuring respect and implementation of the 2005 Unesco Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expression in member states and in the European Union; 2) safeguarding the cultural exception in commercial negotiations undertaken by the European Union; 3) modernising the financing of creation in an effort to incorporate internet and digital leaders in this task; 4) defending and sustaining copyright, guaranteeing the free movement and social rights of creators and audiovisual and cultural professionals; 5) recasting cultural tax regimes so as to apply tax breaks to cultural good, whether these goods be digital or not. (IL)