6.2.2004

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 33/270

(2004/C 33 E/281)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2560/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Funding for artistic handicrafts

According to a recent survey, Italy is the country with the highest number of craft industries and craftsmen in the EU. With around one and a half million firms and more than 3 million employees, the sector is one of the mainstays of the Italian economy, accounting for approximately 15 % of GDP. However, although the craft industries are of decisive importance in all EU countries, there is no unified legislation on the subject — for example laws in France and Italy are very different from those in Germany and Austria.

The trend towards harmonising the various sectors of the economy merely results in enhancing and regulating SMEs in general, thereby neglecting the craft industries and failing to draw up ad hoc policies for this sector, which constitutes the production base for the majority of businesses in the EU. Furthermore, until now no comprehensive study has been made of the handicraft firms in the EU nor is there a definition of ‘European craft industry’.

Handicrafts are the expression of the various cultures in the EU and should therefore be protected and encouraged in all their forms.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1.	whether there is any funding for artistic handicrafts;

2.	whether there are any calls to tender for the creation of artworks to adorn cities;

3.	whether there is any provision for international events featuring artistic handicrafts;

4.	what the general situation is in this sector?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 September 2003)

The Commission can provide support for artistic handicrafts initiatives under the framework programme Culture 2000, which is the Union's single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation, on condition that the initiatives meet the programme's selection criteria. Through its support for the cultural heritage and visual arts sectors in particular, the Culture 2000 programme promotes artistic creation, giving particular priority to young people, the socially disadvantaged and cultural diversity. There is no Community programme devoted specifically to artistic handicrafts: the sole source of funding for cultural heritage and visual arts projects is the Culture 2000 programme.

The Honourable Member will find further information on the programme on the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/indexfr.htlm

Additionally, the Commission is providing funding for the Prodecom project under the Euromed Heritage II framework programme. This project seeks to mobilise the potential of the Euro-Mediterranean artistic and craft cultural heritage through the introduction of a local culture product' label intended to make it easier for the quality and originality of craft products to be recognised. In the longer term, this initiative should facilitate the marketing of craft products in Europe and worldwide. The project is being coordinated by the Chambre des Beaux Arts de Méditerranée (1).

2.	The Commission is not aware of the publication of any calls for tender for the creation of artworks to adorn cities.

The Commission does not have a specific agenda for international events featuring artistic handicrafts. However, international events were supported in 2002 under the Culture 2000 programme. The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the above-mentioned website, which shows all the projects cofinanced by Culture 2000.

The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that, in the absence of a definition of what constitutes a ‘European craft business’, it is often difficult to estimate fully the contribution the craft sector makes to the European economy. There has already been a study to establish a definition of ‘small craft business’, which should enable the Commission to collect comparable and more accurate statistics.

The Honourable Member will find further information on this study on the website: http://europa.eu.int/ comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/craft/craft-studies/methodology-craftstatistics.htm

Competence for assessing the general situation in this sector lies with the Member States alone. However, the Commission, aware of the need to promote the quality of craft products, has also conducted a study to identify craft trades in Europe. The study includes a series of recommendations for strategies to promote craft products, ranging from preserving and transmitting know-how to facilitating access to the national and international markets through the development of e-commerce.

The final report of this study can be found on the website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/ entrepreneurship/craft/craft- studies/methodology-craftstatistics.htm

The Commission is therefore continuing to devote attention to this subject and is planning a preparatory study to evaluate the feasibility of a Community instrument for promoting typical products — other than agricultural products — made by small European enterprises, including artistic craft products.

(1) 59, rue Cambronne, 75015 Paris: ch.beaux.arts@wanadoo.fr.