Brussels, 16/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 10 April, with the adoption of the report by Vasco Graça-Moura (EPP-ED, Portugal) by 542 votes to 62 and 12 abstentions, the European Parliament wished to reflect the existence of Europe's common cultural heritage and the need to promote this heritage. Cultural wealth adds genuine value and has an identity-giving role that is vital for Europe and the EU, MEPs said, welcoming the European Commission's 2007 communication on a “European agenda for culture in a globalising world”. There are, however, some shortcomings, they said, noting the lack of detail on financing and the little attention given to added value provided by town twinning and partnerships. Also, existing programmes do not completely reflect, they say, the implications of the European common cultural heritage. They therefore invited the Commission to suggest specific programmes aimed at safeguarding Europe's cultural heritage and to create a “European heritage” label in order to highlight the value of the European dimension of cultural goods, monuments, historic sites and places of remembrance. They suggested the creation of a specific programme intended to promote European traditional heritage and the historic contributions of national cultures. They took the view that it was important to set up European cultural diplomacy and suggested that a list of “cultural pilgrimage sites” should be drawn up for all member states. MEPs also want the Commission to identify threatened sectors such as the publishing and music sectors. The latter, which is greatly threatened by digitalisation and piracy, must continue to benefit from the protection of literary and artistic property rights. MEPs also invited the Commission to create a programme aimed at promoting European languages in the world. They finally suggested that a European Year should be organised to commemorate a European personality and suggested, within this framework, that 2010 should celebrate Chopin and 2011 be made a European Year of Greek and Latin Classics. (I.L.)