Brussels, 30/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Developing artistic education within the European Union would help to promote European culture and diversity, states the own-initiative report by Maria Badia i Cutchet (PES, Spain), which was adopted on Tuesday 24 March by a large majority (575 in favour, 34 against and 31 abstentions). The European Union should, in line with its motto "United in diversity", promote the history of European art on the grounds of its intrinsically universal nature, the MEPs stress. Furthermore, a school should once again become the main site for the democratisation of access to culture and art education should be an obligatory element of school programmes, in order to "promote the democratisation of access to culture". The report also stresses the role of European culture as a factor for the integration and preservation of traditional cultural values in the various regions. The MEPs go on to suggest improving the mobility of professionals in the arts sector, by paying greater attention to the issue of the recognition of qualifications. On this, the Commission is called upon to work together with the member states to set in place a framework for the mobility of European artists and creators. Whilst recognizing the competency of the member states in this field, the MEPs nonetheless take the view that policies on art education should be coordinated at EU level. The report goes on to stress the importance of new information and communication technologies and the internet as tools in modern teaching. Stressing the vital contribution of instruments such as the European digital library, the MEPs recommend the joint creation of a European portal dedicated to artistic and cultural training and the inclusion of art education on the school syllabi of the member states. (I.L./transl.fl)