Brussels, 10/05/2007 (Agence Europe) - Without affecting Member States' prerogatives, the European Commission wants to breathe new life into culture, whether within the EU or in relations between the EU and the outside world, particularly developing countries. The College of Commissioners adopted a policy statement on 10 May on the role of culture and proposing the very first European strategy for culture, open to diversity and open to the rest of the world to make culture a vector of economic growth and inter-cultural understanding.
The policy statement, entitled "A European agenda for culture in a globalising world", affirms the central role of culture in the process of European integration and proposes a cultural agenda for Europe, and for its relations with third countries. The policy statement presents three major objectives - the promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; and the promotion of culture as a catalyst for creativity in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy; and the promotion of culture as a vital element in the Union's international relations.
The creation of an EU-ACP Cultural Fund with initial funding of EUR 30 mil from the 10th European Development Fund (2008-2013) increase the access of ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) cultural goods to European markets pour is the most tangible part of the external wing of the culture agenda.
Giving an overview of the future culture strategy at a press conference, EU Culture, Youth and Education Commissioner Jan Figel said Europe was far more defined by its culture of common values than by the world of business or geography. While the EU's action in the culture field is based on Article 151 of the Treaty and leaves most powers in the hands of the Member States, the EU has to look after the common heritage, he explained, mentioning the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression that came into force on 18 March 2007. He said the EU was prepared to contribute to ensure culture plays a greater role both in the EU and outside, wanting an organised dialogue with culture players, particularly through a new Cultural Forum.
This is why the Commission is suggesting a more structured system of cooperation among Member States and European institutions when it comes to culture, based on the Open Coordination Method (OCM) which has been used successfully to establish cooperation among Member States and the Commission in the field of education, training, youth and social protection. Under the proposed strategy, the Member States and Commission would have to agree on general targets and would assess progress every two years. Asked about the nature of the objectives, Jan Figel quoted improving the quality of information on the contribution of creative industries to growth (information on the mobility of art, insurance conditions for artwork, taxation, the distribution of works of culture, etc). According to a study carried out by the Commission, the culture and creative industries accounted for 2.3% of EU25 GDP in 2003, employing 5.8 million people (or 3.1% of the total population), but there is little evidence of this contribution, added the Commissioner.
Commenting on the foreign relations side of the culture agenda, EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel (speaking ahead of his period of leave of absence from the Commission, from 12 May to 10 June 2007, to fight an election) welcomed the attention that was finally being paid to an area of development cooperation that had been far too underestimated or even ignored in the past. The Commission is proposing measures to boost the importance of culture as a component of political dialogue with partner countries and regions, to promote cultural exchanges and systematically include culture in development programmes and projects. Louis Michel said this was excellent, matching the European consensus on development whereby the EU decided in 2005 to see culture as a powerful development vector rather than as a residual vector. He said culture and artistic creation were part of the emergence or re-awakening of a community's vital energy and recognising a piece of art meant recognising other people in their inner wealth. He rejected the idea of a cultural hierarchy or order. In relations with ACP states, the culture strategy will aim to boost access to the EU market of cultural goods from the African, Caribbean and Pacific, explained Louis Michel.
The ACP/EU Cultural Fund will fund the production of cultural goods, for example, in ACP states, the organisation of exhibitions of African artwork, the publication of a catalogue of African artwork, and helping ACP artists to access Europe for big cultural events. The Commissioner added: “But they must be granted visas, which are sometimes difficult for African artists to obtain. The open method of coordination will allow us to know who keeps his promises”. Louis Michel also stressed the need to protect ACP artists from “cultural pillaging, and the plundering of creativity”.
Would this fund be able to finance the restitution of cultural goods to ACP countries? “I would be in favour of this but it depends very much on member states”, replied Louis Michel, saying that EU-ACP discussions on this subject are not closed but that, if a decision were taken, the fund could indeed finance this kind of action.
The communication approved by the Commission is the result of consultation between decision-makers and all interested players throughout Europe. (an)