Brussels, 24/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Viviane Reding took part in a the "Congrès de l'Union internationale des Editeurs" on 21 June in Berlin where she pointed out the specific and essential role of culture in creating a common European identity. The Commissioner pointed out that books and literature have an essential role to play in this mutual understanding and can serve as "bridges" between people as the world globalises, and the EU expands with currently 500 million citizens.
In this context new "education and culture" programmes in application from 2007 will be particularly oriented on the exterior by focusing on three essential objectives: 1) encouraging the mobility and training of professionals in the cultural sector; 2) facilitate the circulation of literary works from one country to another; 3) encourage intercultural dialogue. Addressing the publishers at the conference, Ms Reding underlined their essential role in the diffusion of culture, "you have a social and educational responsibility and your are key players in the European identity building process". The movement of books trans-nationally depends on the quality of the publishers' work and the availability of books in different languages. This is why, according to the Commissioner, the EU is keen on encouraging the profession to take action to stimulate cooperation between publishers, encourage mobility and training of professionals in the sector and promote literature among the young and underprivileged. Viviane Reding pointed out that the "culture 2000" programme contributed every year to the funding of around ten projects in the publishing sector. The Commissioner added that, "the European Union is probably the number one public source of financing for the translation of literary works in Europe".
The Commissioner underlined, in conclusion, that the main challenge facing the publishing sector in the near future was what role the print media and books would have for future generations, given that young people are increasingly influenced by the opportunities on the internet, which are often in a single language and which sometimes provides a very unilateral vision of the external world? According to Reding, education policy should help to provide the response, "the European Commission is ready to reflect with the publishers on how to make better use of current and future education, youth and culture programmes to promote reading and literacy. I personally believe that a European Year devoted to that key issue would be a good idea".