17/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, the European Parliament's committee on culture has expressed its concerns about the "uncertain status of creativity and cultural diversity in the future European Treaty". According to the committee, article 3 (Union objectives) "is problematic" because it does not include in its priorities "either culture as a fundamental objective", "nor active support for creativity". Members of the committee, chaired by Michel Rocard, expressed their great regret that the Convention has made no attempt "to balance out the relationship between culture and competition", and that State aid to culture "continues to come under dispensatory, precarious or reversible authorisations". The MEPs are also concerned about the future of the European Commission's mandate for cultural and audiovisual issues at the WTO, and asked for unanimity to be maintained on these issues, despite acknowledging that unanimity "limits European ambition".