What european cultural policy ?

The topical study “Creating Growth” has recently demonstrated that cultural sector is the bigger employer just behind building and restoration sectors. It also generates 4.2% of the European GPD.

Cultural sector might be one pillar of a future growth but its nature makes it a particular economic sector. What is the European cultural policy?

History

Since 1997, The European Commission has set up a Cultural action Plan. In the middle of the 80’s, with the growing satellite radio diffusion, the Commission published a Green Book on the common market of the radio diffusion. “Audio Visual media services without frontiers” Directive was adopted in 1989.

Still, it is the Maastricht treaty which has finally established the Commission’s cultural competences. According to this treaty, the EU should aims to promote the cultural diversity within the state member and their common heritage. This period shed light on crucial issues such as cultural exception.

Intracommunitary policy

For the EU, the culture may be a economic asset and a social binder as well. Then, to support cultural sector is likely promoting an united and dynamic Europe. The Cultural policy responds to the subsidiary principle; European institutions do not interfere with the State members but complete their actions and encourage the cultural cooperation.

It is one of the objectives of the EUROPE CREATIVE programme which is the main instrument of the European cultural policy. The programme aims to to support transnational circulation of cultural and creative works and operators and reach new audiences in Europe and beyond. It also contributes to strengthen the financial capacity of the cultural and creative sectors, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises and organizations. It finally encourages transnational policy cooperation in order to foster policy development, innovation, audience building and new business models, especially SME’s. 

The programme is composed of 3 strands :
* MEDIA strand to facilitate circulation of European films worldwide and of international films in Europe on all platforms, initiatives presenting and promoting a diversity of European audiovisual works
* Culture strand concerning international touring, events and exhibitions, actions enabling operators to internationalize their careers in Europe and beyond, support for literary translation
* Cross sectorial strand to stimulate cross-border cooperation between professionals, institutions platforms and networks in the cultural and creative sectors

1.46 billion euro was allocated to CREATIVE EUROPE programmes, which represents 9% more than the previous years.
Calls for proposals are frequently published all year long.

European Culture ?

“culture” might be understood as a set of values and references which gathers the citizens. EUROPE FOR CITIZEN programme aims to contribute to the understanding about the European Union and to promote civic participation. It supports Activities of mutual discovery and cooperation, such as citizens’ meetings, town-twinning and networking of twinned towns or the contact points of “Europe for Citizens”.  Mobility actions under ERASMUS PLUS tend to reach this global objective as well.