Brussels, 11/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - On the basis on an initiative by the Barcelona provincial government, 22 territorial groupings from 8 European countries have just formed a 'European network of intermediary administrations for culture and proximity". Named "Sigma", this network was formed during the first general assembly that took place in Brussels on 7 and 8 March. It aims to: - promote local subsidiarity, in the European framework, for cultural and proximity services; - defend the core position of culture in local administration policies; - pool criteria and techniques for cultural cooperation in favour of municipalities; - establish information and cooperation mechanisms between its members; - contribute towards the European building process starting with cultural plurality of an administration close to citizens; - promote international "local/local" cooperation in terms of culture and cultural policy. The network's management committee is formed of representatives from 7 administrations in 5 countries: (1) Spain (Diputacio de Barcelona; Diputacion Foral de Bizkaia; Diputacion de Salamanca); (2) United Kingdom (Manchester City Council); (3) France (Conseil général de l'Aude); (4) Norway (Akershus County Council); (5) Romania (Conssilliul Judetean Timis).