Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-09-04-Speech-2-326"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20010904.13.2-326"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:translated text |
".
Mr President, I wish to thank the rapporteur for his report, not merely for form’s sake but from the heart, because it provides a timely opportunity to renew our discussion of the future of cultural cooperation in Europe.I regret, Mr Ruffolo, ladies and gentlemen, that the discussion on this report is taking place at almost midnight, in front of an empty chamber, not qualitatively, but quantitatively so, for I think that what we are talking about – and I am not only saying this as the Commissioner responsible for this dossier – is the future of Europe. In fact, the future of Europe, even if current themes centre around the euro and our economic development in a globalised environment, will depend on the following question: how will we know how to deal with culture, our cultures, our cultural diversity, founded on common roots, that has so much in common and is so diverse, united in the construction of a common European cultural unit? It is therefore the ideal moment to talk about it and to act.
Point 9: Structural Funds. We have decided to devote EUR 167 million to the "Culture 2000" programme over five years – a cause for some jealousy, perhaps. I would like to give you a few figures on the investment of Structural Funds in culture whilst pointing out that there is no automatic element in this process. In fact, Member States and regions have to ask for these investments, without which the Structural Funds cannot be effective on the ground.
The Commission has precise information available for countries that have decided to devote a proportion of Structural Funds to cultural actions. I will cite three: Greece, Portugal and Italy. Portugal, for example, has voted for a budget of EUR 327 million for culture for the 2000-2006 period. The European Community contributes up to EUR 237 million. This is a question, for a small country – a great country in terms of culture, of course, but a small Member State all the same – of a sum that goes way above that which is available, for fifteen Member States, for the "Culture 2000" action. In Greece, the total Community contribution for culture will rise to EUR 414 million and in Italy, we will also contribute by participating in seven regional operational programmes and in devoting a large budget to culture in which Structural Funds constitute more than EUR 1 200 000.
Even if we only take the example of these three countries, that is to say not all fifteen, Mr President, we see that in one year Structural Funds invest more than EUR 250 million in culture. You will therefore have an idea that this involves amounts that are very much higher than those we have available as European politicians responsible for culture.
Point 11: The Observatory. You have adopted the steps necessary for the introduction of two new budget headings in the 2002 draft budget. I am delighted with this initiative.
Point 12: the contact points. An examination of the role of the contact points and their finance contract is being undertaken. It should also be concluded this year. We will keep you informed of the conclusions of this examination. Let me in any case draw your attention to the fact that these contact points should remain information structures used in the decision-making process that will have been taken by the political authorities.
Points 13 and 14: the Cultural Forum. On 21 and 22 November, the second forum on cultural cooperation in Europe will take place and the President and the rapporteur have already been informed.
You will all know very well that the move to qualified majority voting for Article 151, that Parliament and the Commission had requested, has not been included in the Treaty of Nice. Therefore, we have to face facts, we have to make realistic policies. We did not get the qualified majority, we therefore have to act without it and try to create a situation in which we can evolve. That is the merit, by the way, of the Ruffolo report, which takes us away from what seemed to be an impasse. I see Mr Graça Moura here, who is currently preparing another report on the evaluation of the "Culture 2000" programme, which will, I suppose, be similar in nature. So, Parliament is taking the initiative. Parliament is attempting to break this deadlock and it is Parliament that has also, and I thank you for this, I thank your Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport, Mr President, put forward very sturdy budgetary proposals. Now, it has to be said that this will not be easy because, given our institutional situation, with unanimity, making budgetary innovations is a delicate and difficult matter. Yet together, I am sure that we will get there.
Mr Ruffolo has asked all the right questions: what should the objectives of our cooperative action be? What values should they defend? These questions should serve as the basis for the revision of the "Culture 2000" framework programme. I would also like to underline the interest of the study of national cultural policies in Member States which has provided the basis for this report. I would like to say to the rapporteur that incidences of convergence, as he says, are many in number, both in terms of definitions in the cultural field and in terms of the objectives of national policies. It is also important, as has been revealed by the numerous MEPs present at the debate this evening, that this leads to a more profound awareness of the fact that, in order to make advances in national policies, there needs to be convergence and collaboration at European level.
I would now like to react point by point to the fundamental elements of the motion for a resolution, Mr President. With regard to points 1 and 2, the importance of culture and cultural cooperation for European identity, a lengthy explanation is not necessary. We are in agreement, culture is an intrinsic value for the peoples of Europe, it is the essential element of European integration. It contributes to the affirmation and vitality of the European social model as well as the influence of Europe on the international stage. This recognition of culture as a vehicle for European identity should be shared not only by the European Parliament and the Commission, but also by the Council, currently discussing a motion for a resolution from the Belgian Presidency on the role of culture in Europe. I really hope that Parliament and the Commission will do everything necessary for this resolution to succeed.
Point 4: culture and the information society. You will already be aware of the Commission’s numerous initiatives:
for audiovisual material
and
for educational material
I would quite simply like to thank you for having tried, through a budgetary action, to strengthen the Commission’s efforts in this direction and I would also like to tell you that the Belgian Presidency is very interested in this dossier. It has presented a motion for a resolution that aims to improve access to culture via the Internet and we are going to organise, with the Belgian Presidency, a seminar entitled "Culture and Internet" on 22 September. This seminar will facilitate the development of an electronic European cultural network and the presence of culture on the Internet.
Points 5, 8
and 10: strengthening cooperation. Parliament is hoping to strengthen cultural cooperation using a three-year plan for Member States and through the creation of a European Observatory for cultural cooperation. These two proposals open up new perspectives and I am delighted that the amendments set out by Mr Ruffolo, Mrs Pack and Mr Graça Moura
in the name of the two main groups in this Parliament allow the Commission to lift its reservations, which were not fundamental reservations, but formal reservations which called for these two proposals. We are therefore in agreement on the basis. In fact, by strengthening cooperation between Member States and between cultural institutions, we can develop improved knowledge of the cultural world with all that that implies. Some honourable Members have said this with a great deal of commitment and much talent.
So, in concrete terms, I want to tell you this. The Director-General of the Directorate-General for Education and Culture regularly brings together the Directors-General of Culture of the Member States. The objective of these meetings is to strengthen cooperation. They know each other, they know what each other are doing, they can work together, they can think of common actions to take in cooperation with one another, and how to apply them in practice.
On the same subject, the Commission is hoping to strengthen the visibility of the European Community’s numerous cultural actions. I will return to this subject. This is the reason why a portal devoted to all Community actions linked to culture will be opened in a few months time. This will not only have an influence upon the actions initiated by my Directorate-General: it will also encompass that taking place in other Directorates-General. It goes without saying, Mr President, that your Parliament will be invited to the inauguration of this portal because I am also counting on you. It is very important that the cultural actors from your Member States and your constituents know that it exists and that it works. You will be one of the important outlets for spreading the word about this portal.
I would also like to thank the Culture Committee for having requested that a budget heading be set up for the creation of a European Observatory or an equivalent structure. You voted for this, Mr President, and I hope you will be followed by the Committee on Budgets."@en1
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
"e-content,"1
"e-learning."1
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples