At their informal meeting in Bucharest on Tuesday 16 April, the European Ministers of Culture discussed ways of strengthening cultural and creative industries, better financing them and building on the successes of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. They also expressed their solidarity with France following the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral the day before.
The challenges identified by the Romanian Presidency include the lack of entrepreneurial skills among professionals in the sector, the lack of understanding of cultural specificities on the part of financial intermediaries, the lack of consideration of creative entrepreneurship by decision-makers, the lack of data and, "last but not least", problems related to the valuation of intellectual property rights, which are essential for the culture and creative sectors to fully exploit their potential.
A Bucharest Declaration in preparation
According to our information, the Romanian Presidency intended to close the meeting with the adoption of a declaration on the place of culture in the Europe of the future. While some countries - such as Denmark - were not really in favour of it on the grounds that the meeting was informal, the declaration should still be adopted by electronic procedure, allowing the Romanian Presidency to introduce a reference to the fire at Notre-Dame de Paris into the text.
This 5-page statement is relatively consensual. It concerns the two topics on the ministers' agenda, namely the potential of the cultural and creative industry and cultural heritage. Among the main messages, it suggests helping to develop the potential of the cultural and creative sectors, recognises the need to use the opportunities offered by digital technologies and advocates a strategic approach. It also calls on the Commission to use the key principles identified in the European framework for action on cultural heritage.
Notre-Dame: a Polish offer of services
The fire at Notre-Dame de Paris was obviously part of the discussions, with many expressions of solidarity. According to our information, Poland has provided expertise in the reconstruction of historic buildings following the destruction caused by the Second World War and has shown itself willing to help France in this area. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)