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Document 52008XG0607(01)
Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on Intercultural Competences
Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on Intercultural Competences
Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on Intercultural Competences
IO C 141, 7.6.2008, p. 14–16
(BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
7.6.2008 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
C 141/14 |
Council conclusions of 22 May 2008 on Intercultural Competences
(2008/C 141/09)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
1. |
referring to the provisions of Decision No 1983/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 (1); |
2. |
referring to the Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions; |
3. |
having regard to the Commission's Communication of 10 May 2007 on a European Agenda for Culture in a Globalizing World (2) and to the Council Resolution of 16 November 2007 on a European Agenda for Culture (3); |
4. |
recalling the Recommendation 2006/962/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on 18 December 2006 on key competences for lifelong learning (4); |
5. |
recalling the Conclusions of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council of 15 November 2007, on improving the quality of teacher education, |
CONSIDERING that:
— |
intercultural dialogue is a key tool in addressing some of the most important challenges Europe is facing at present and that it constitutes one of the three strategic objectives of the European Agenda for Culture, to be implemented through triennial work plans, |
— |
in order to foster open and inclusive societies established on core European values and to promote active citizenship, European citizens need to be equipped with intercultural competences, which constitute a key factor for strengthening intercultural dialogue, |
— |
the knowledge, skills and attitudes of particular relevance to intercultural competences are those relating to the following key competences: communication in foreign languages, social and civic competences, and cultural awareness and expression (5). |
RECOGNIZING that:
With a view to strengthening intercultural competences in society, a sustainable and cross-sectoral approach towards intercultural dialogue needs to be developed. This approach should seek to integrate and support the following relevant initiatives in the fields of:
A. |
CULTURE, in particular as foreseen in the Work Plan of the Council for the period 2008-2010:
|
B. |
EDUCATION:
|
C. |
YOUTH:
|
D. |
AUDIOVISUAL:
|
INVITES THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION, WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS OF COMPETENCES, TO:
— |
promote intercultural competences through the existing instruments and initiatives in the fields of culture, education, youth and audiovisual policy, in particular by exploring how these measures could be further deepened and enhanced in support of intercultural dialogue, |
— |
increase synergies between these fields with a view to developing intercultural competences, for example by envisaging joint initiatives, taking into account the need of citizens to understand and respect their own culture, the culture of others and cultural diversity in general, to communicate in a culturally diverse environment and to identify and actively participate in fostering and developing common values of democracy and fundamental rights, |
— |
create opportunities for dialogue at local, regional, national and EU levels by strengthening support for the development of intercultural competences through the existing programmes in the fields of culture, education, youth and audiovisual policy, |
— |
foster a favourable environment for creativity and innovation to make their full contribution in shaping intercultural competences and enhancing intercultural dialogue, |
— |
identify and share good practices in the development of intercultural competences, taking account in particular, as a follow-up, of initiatives undertaken at national and EU level as part of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, |
— |
enhance and promote the concept of intercultural dialogue in all other relevant policy fields, both within the EU and in their external relations. |
(1) OJ L 412, 30.12.2006, p. 44.
(2) Doc. 9496/07 and ADD 1.
(3) OJ C 287, 29.11.2007, p. 1.
(4) OJ L 394, 30.12.2006, p. 10.
(5) Key competences as defined in the Recommendation 2006/962/EC.
(6) OJ L 332, 18.12.2007, p. 27.
(7) Often referred to in English as ‘community media’ and in French as ‘médias associatifs’.