The recent news (as of 20 November 2008) is that “the European Council is urging the European Commission and the Member States to strengthen culture's place and role in EU external relations”. The Council strongly recommends "drawing up a European strategy for incorporating culture consistently and systematically in the external relations of the Union and contributing to the complimentarity of the Union's activities with those of its Member States". The released document: Council Conclusions on the promotion of Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue in the External Relations of the Union and its Member States brings lots of excitement in the cultural sector. This is indeed the first ever high level comprehensive official document on this topic, calling for the right policies, consistent approaches and instruments for mainstreaming of culture, and for inclusion of the civil society in the overall policy thinking and making. The Council Conclusions put focus on the following policy objectives:
- Strengthening the role and place of culture in the policies and programmes of the EU’s external relations, and promoting cooperation with third countries and international organizations.
- Promoting the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
- Promoting the Intercultural dialogue.
In a short interview, Isabelle Schwarz, Head of Cultural Policy Development, emphasizes that: “The European agenda for culture (2007) and the just released European Council conclusions are strong signals for a mayor shift of thinking and approach of culture within the EU. Culture is no longer seen as a luxury but as an essential way to achieve common political objectives. This is a very important step forward that will certainly have consequences on policies, programmes, instruments, methods, and funding.”
Throughout the last few years, cultural networks, associations, foundations and nonprofit organisations across Europe have intensively advocated with strong arguments why culture could advance internal and external EU policy objectives. Investigation and study has been undertaken, including two key research projects in 2006-2007 in which LabforCulture collaborated: A Cultural Component as an Integral Part of the EU’s Foreign Policy?, by Dianne Dodd, Melle Lyklema and Kathinka Dittrich van Weringh, and A Cultural Dimension to the EU’s External Policies - from Policy Statements to Practice and Potential, by Rod Fisher. The important areas, where there is a need for implementing new working methods and instruments, include:
- mobility of European artists and cultural professionals;
- artistic and cultural education of young people, including media literacy, mobility, etc.;
- involvement of the civil society in policy development and implementation;
- adaptation and tailoring of the financial instruments and operational programmes to the specificity of cultural sector;
- simplification of procedures for obtaining grants;
- access to information on diverse programmes and activities.
The European Agenda for Culture (May 2007), together with a series of other important policy documents, confirmed a significant shift of paradigm on EU and Member State level. In 2007, the European Commission (EC) initiated the Open Method of Coordination for Culture (which already exists in other fields such as: employment, education and youth, etc.) with the goal to have an intergovernmental framework for dialogue, cooperation and feedback with the civil society actors across Europe and to involve them in a structural manner in the policy thinking, decisions and actions. This method contributes much to raising the profile of culture on EU and Member States level. The Commission is currently engaged in this “structured dialogue” with the civil society through three Platforms: Intercultural dialogue, Access to culture and Creative industries. The EC’s annual Cultural Forum also contributes to the overall policy dialogue (next edition of the Cultural Forum in autumn 2009 in Brussels). An online consultation space is initiated by the Rainbow Platform and facilitated by LabforCulture - where everyone could sign up in support of the main Recommendations that came from hundreds of views from varying sectors centre on: educating and building institutional capacity for Intercultural Dialogue, monitoring for sustained policies, mobilising across boundaries and the resourcing of Intercultural Dialogue.
The European Cultural Foundation and LabforCulture, will continue advocating, together with national and international partners, for the speedy implementation of the Council conclusions. Only 20 months have passed from the key conference in The Hague “Diversity Makes the Difference” (March 2007), but it seems that we have achieved a lot!
LabforCulture jest inicjatywą partnerską Europejskiej Fundacji Kultury. LabforCulture jest wdzięczna swoim fundatorom za wsparcie
The ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy (2nd – 6th February, 2009)
Europe Meets Latin America: A Forum for Young Leaders (9th – 13th February, 2009)
Cultural Diplomacy in Europe: A Forum for Young Leaders (16th – 20th February, 2009)
Cultural Diplomacy in Africa: A Forum for Young Leaders (23rd – 27th February, 2009)
The ICD is an international, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization focused on the theoretical and practical promotion of cultural exchange as a tool for improving relations in all areas. To learn more about our activity, please visit http://www.culturaldiplomacy.org.
The ICD programs bring together Young Leaders from across the world for an analysis of cultural diplomacy, an exploration of the relationship between their cultures, and to create a sustainable network between likeminded individuals. Participants are encouraged to use the networks they develop to organize their own leadership initiatives in the future.
Anonymous User | 13 sty 2009