The strategy adopted today is
in line with the Commission's priority to make the EU a stronger global actor.
Culture can play a crucial role in strengthening international partnerships.
The 'Strategy for
international cultural relations' presented by the European Commission
and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy aims at
encouraging cultural cooperation between the EU and its partner countries and
promoting a global order based on peace, the rule of law, freedom of
expression, mutual understanding and respect for fundamental values.
EU High Representative and
Vice-President Federica Mogherini said: "Culture
has to be part and parcel of our foreign policy. Culture is a powerful tool to
build bridges between people, notably the young, and reinforce mutual
understanding. It can also be an engine for economic and social development.
As
we face common challenges, culture can help all of us, in Europe, Africa,
Middle East, Asia, stand together to fight radicalisation and build an
alliance of civilisations against those trying to divide us. This is why
cultural diplomacy must be at the core of our relationship with today's
world."
European Commissioner for
Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Tibor Navracsics, said: "Culture
is the hidden gem of our foreign policy. It helps to promote dialogue and
mutual understanding. Culture is therefore crucial in building long-term
relationships with countries across the whole world: it has a great role to
play in making the EU a stronger global actor."
European Commissioner for
International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, and Commissioner
for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, welcomed the Strategy, in line with the
recently adopted 2030 Agenda acknowledging global
citizenship, cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue as overarching
principles of sustainable development and for the EU's neighbourhood and
enlargement policies.
Culture can play an important
role in the EU's foreign policy. Cultural cooperation counters stereotypes and
prejudice by nurturing dialogue, open-mindedness, dignity and mutual respect.
Inter-cultural dialogue can help prevent conflicts and foster reconciliation
within and between countries. Culture can help respond to global challenges
such as the integration of refugees, countering violent radicalisation and the
protection of the world's cultural heritage. Culture can also be a tool to
deliver important social and economic benefits both within and outside the EU.
Today's Communication proposes
a strategic framework for deeper and more effective international cultural
relations as well as a new model for cooperation with Member States, national
cultural institutes, private and public operators from the EU and its partner
countries, increasing opportunities, creating synergies and maximising
socio-economic benefits.
Culture is becoming more and
more a vector for economic growth, not only in its traditional forms, but
particularly through cultural and creative industries, SMEs and tourism. This
strengthens the opinion that synergies with other fields are crucial and that
public and private sector and civil society should be more and more involved.
Culture plays an important
role also at municipal level. Engaging citizens, state actors and cultural
operators alike, is a major resource for strengthening municipalities and
communities and for developing market opportunities.
As such, this Communication is
in line with the ninth priority outlined by European Commission President
Juncker in his 2014 Political Guidelines and reflecting the ambition of the
EU's forthcoming Global Strategy being prepared by the High Representative. The
Commission has also announced that it will propose to the European Parliament
and the Council of the EU to organise a European Year of Cultural Heritage in
2018.
Background
Culture in EU external
relations is one of the three pillars of the European Agenda for Culture
(2007). Developing a strategic approach in this field has been a priority of
the Council's Work Plans for Culture since 2011. A major step forward was made
with the European Parliament's Preparatory Action "Culture in EU external relations" (2013-14), which
highlighted the considerable potential for culture in Europe’s external
relations and underlined that the European Union and its Member States stand to
gain a great deal by better streamlining their cultural diplomacy.
In the cultural and creative
sectors, the EU has already funded many projects such as creative hubs'
networks or the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Cultures+ programme and
the programmes to support cultural governance and promote intercultural
dialogue. The Creative Europe programme is also open to neighbourhood and
enlargement countries. EU delegations regularly organise cultural diplomacy
activities and EU development cooperation has long included culture and
heritage in its actions (for example, to restore the Timbuktu manuscripts in
Mali). The EU's support to the Anna Lindh Foundation in the South Mediterranean
serves as another good example of how culture will influence the EU's foreign
policy. The Young Arab Voices programme (now enlarged to the EuroMediterranean
region), for instance, deepens the dialogue between young leaders and civil
society representatives and develop counter-narratives to extremism and violent
radicalisation.
Another example is EU assistance to protect cultural heritage
in Syria, implemented by UNESCO, supporting local stakeholders in monitoring
the state of the heritage and in preserving the heritage and countering illicit
trafficking. In the Eastern Partnership (EaP), the EaP Culture Programme is
supporting the cultural and creative sectors’ contribution to sustainable
humanitarian, social and economic development. At the same time, the
"Community-Led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns" project seeks to
stimulate social and economic development by enhancing cultural heritage in
nine historic towns in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and
Ukraine
Horizon 2020 also supports
research on cultural diplomacy and activities on cultural heritage through
multinational, interdisciplinary projects. Future programmes are under
preparation to support partner countries in different regions; namely fostering
cultural and creative industries and promoting intercultural dialogue.
To help the EU implement the
strategy and create synergies among all EU stakeholders (EU delegations,
national cultural institutes and foundations, private and public enterprises,
civil society), a Cultural Diplomacy Platform was set up in February 2016,
focusing on strategic countries. Operated by a consortium of Member States'
Cultural Institutes and other partners, the Platform will deliver policy
advice, facilitate networking, carry out activities with cultural stakeholders
and develop training programmes for cultural leadership.
For more information
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