Strasbourg, 25/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - As well as the Hieronymi report on MEDIA 2007, on Tuesday, MEPs adopted by a show of hands, the recommendation of Vasco Graça Moura (EPP-ED, Portugal) on the Culture 2007-2013 programme. This programme has three key objectives: the promotion of mobility among those working in culture, the encouragement of cross-border circulation of works of art and of culturally significant objectives, and fostering inter-cultural dialogue. The recommendation approved the Council's joint position, with three amendments. Pointing out that the European Union had to defend its cultural identity, Mr Graça Moura was critical of the modest funding - €354 million - allocated to the programme: “We have a programme which wants to go further, but in spite of everything, there is less money,” he stressed. During the debate before the vote, several MEPs also criticised the lack of funding allocated to culture in spite of a theoretically ambitious programme. French Socialist MEP Guy Bono, who felt the programme was moving in the right direction, said it was silly to set ambitious targets if the budget was not in line and Member States had not given up their national selfishness. Opposing the programme, given its situation, he said, “if we don't have the funding for our policy, we must have the policy for our funding”. There was the same reaction from Claire Gibault (ALDE, France), who wondered how such a budget could increase awareness of European culture and the mobility of works of art. “Once again artists will be astonished that culture is only the cherry on the cake. Europe has not set a good example,” she said. Italian non-attached member Alessandro Battilocchio was less scathing, giving his full support to a programme which would allow a balance between small and major projects. (il)