First Phase

September- November 2006

The Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) has launched a Communication on culture platform which seeks to address the role of culture in the EU. There is a growing recognition within the EU that culture lies at the heart of the European project and has a unique and indispensable role to play.

The Communication will analyse the various dimensions of the role of culture in the European project, take stock of existing efforts but also identify new challenges and possible new avenues for tackling them, in terms of substance and methods. The aim is both to identify common priorities (a European ‘agenda’ for culture) and to develop new frameworks and methods for dialogue and cooperation.
Please read the contribution of the EMC here.

May 2007

The "Communication on a European Agenda for Culture in a Globalizing World" of the EU Commission has been published. Please find the full text here.

June 2007

Simone Dudt, EMC deputy secretery General, has formulated a comment on the Communication, which you may download here (in German).

September 2007

EFAH (European Forum for the Arts and Heritage), IETM (International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts) and the EMC have been working together on a briefing on the Communication and on a model letters to national governments and to MEPs.

Please find the briefing here in English (pdf) and here in French (pdf).

You may use the following model letters to contact your government and MEPs as soon as possible and lobby for an endorsement of the Communication.

Model letter in English (pdf)

Model letter in French (pdf)

November 2007

The EU Council of Cultural Ministers has adopted the Communication, approved the Open Method of Coordination and decided on a list of priorities for the coming years. You may find more detailed information in the ENCATC newsletter.

March 2008

Info Day on "Structured Dialogue" organised by the EU Commission on 19 March 2008.

A full conference room in the Charlemagne building with more than 500 representatives from the Civil Society followed the invitation of the DG Culture and Education.

In the focus: How to start the structured dialogue as presented in the European Agenda for Culture.

After introducing again the three main objectives of the agenda and the five priorities set by the Culture Council in November 2007, new developments were introduced.
For the member states Sonja Kralj Bervar from Slovenia was invited to report on the latest discussion within the Slovenian EU Presidency and speak for the EU member states. The Culture Council has decided to install working groups on different issues of the “agenda” – these working groups will be installed before the next meeting of the Council which will take place in May 2008.

Mme Odile Quintin (Director DG Education and Culture) presented the main features of the structured dialogue with the cultural sector as envisaged by the EU Commission. The EU Commission would like to support and facilitate the dialogue with the sector and enhance the structure of the sector.
Odile Quintin namely mentioned the “Civil Society (Rainbow) Platform” and the Rainbow Paper process as exemplary and role model for other platforms to be installed.
As tools for the structured dialogue the EU Commission will set up two complementary platforms: