Platform for Intercultural Europe
Along with Culture Action Europe we co-launched this broad alliance of around 400 civil society organisations. The cross-sector platform explores how best to support Europe's citizens in coping with and benefiting from diversity. Initially set up in response to 2008 being named the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the Platform has produced a Rainbow Paper of recommendations which were presented publicly to the EU Council at the Year's closing event in Paris. Read more
A European Strategy for Culture
European Commission's first-ever Communication on Culture, May 2007 (adopted November 2007)
This groundbreaking Communication ensures culture's place on the EU agenda. The three aims outlined are: to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; to promote culture as a catalyst for creativity in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and employment; and to promote culture as a vital aspect of the EU's international relations.
Thanks to the so-called Open Method of Coordination, NGOs will have a strong say regards implementing the proposals. The ECF has long campaigned for an adequate EU cultural strategy, welcomes the Communication, and will work with its partners to influence its implementation.
Read ECF Director Gottfried Wagner's reaction: 'A Sign But No Miracle As Yet'
Download the Commission's own press release; check the official EU site; read EU paper on 'Inventory of Community Actions in the Field of Culture'.
New Paradigms, New Models - Culture in EU External Relations
Ljubljana, 22-23 May 2008
We co-initiated this conference as part of the Slovenian EU Presidency. At the conference, EU representatives 'expressed their commitment to further integrate culture in external policies and instruments along the lines of the principles enshrined in the Commission's Communication on a European Agenda for Culture.' Read more
EU (European) Neighbourhood
We have called on the EU to invest significantly in promoting greater mutual understanding of cultural diversity within the EU and beyond. Only in this way will the European neighbourhood policy have a chance of success. One idea we have proposed is a culture programme designed to help EU citizens understand and identify with the process of European integration.
We lobby with our partners (e.g. the Anna Lindh Foundation) for better recognition of culture's importance, not least as a catalyst for economic and social development. We also make recommendations on cultural cooperation policies and instruments that will improve relations between the EU and its neighbours to the East, South, and South-East.
Jochen Fried´s paper on 'Cultural Cooperation in a Wider Europe' brings together factual evidence and content proposals on developing a strategic cultural policy framework for Europe.
70 cents for culture!
We joined forces with Culture Action Europe to campaign for a substantial increase in EU finding for culture (our proposal: 315 million EUROS annually - just 70 cents per EU citizen). The campaign led to a higher profile for culture within the European parliament, but the current EU budget for culture still falls far short of our goal. In the meantime, a more mobilised cultural sector continues to lobby vigorously. Read more...