51998AR0227

Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on:

- the 'Communication from the Commission on the First European Community Framework Programme in Support of Culture (2000-2004)`, and - the 'Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation (Culture 2000 programme)` (1999/C 51/12)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to the Commission Communication on the First European Community framework programme in support of culture (2000-2004) including a proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation (culture 2000 programme) (COM(98) 266 final) ();

having regard to the decision taken by the Council on 9 July 1998, under Article 128 and the first paragraph of Article 198c of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Committee of the Regions on this matter;

having regard to the decision of its Bureau of 13 May 1998 to direct Commission 7 Education, Vocational Training, Culture, Youth, Sport and Citizens' Rights to draw up an Opinion on this subject;

having regard to the Draft Opinion (CdR 227/98 rev.) adopted by Commission 7 on 1 October 1998 (Rapporteurs: Mr Muñoa Ganuza and Ms Tallberg);

having regard to the Committee of the Regions Opinions on the Kaleidoscope 2000 programme (artistic and cultural activities) (CdR 145/95) () the Ariane programme (books and reading) (CdR 146/95) () the Raphael programme (cultural heritage) (CdR 302/95) () and on the 'First report on the consideration of cultural aspects in European Community action` (CdR 206/96 fin) ();

whereas the Treaty of Maastricht calls upon the Community to respect and promote cultural diversity in Europe and to further knowledge, cooperation and exchanges between individuals, organizations and cultural institutions;

whereas the Treaty of Maastricht also stipulates that EU programmes should take into account the Community's cultural objectives,

adopted the following opinion at its 26th plenary session of 18 and 19 November 1998 (meeting of 19 November).

1. Introduction

1.1. The Commission has carried out three analyses of European cultural action. First of all it has analyzed the three European programmes implemented to date in the field of culture: Kaleidoscope, which is devoted to artistic and cultural activities; Ariane, which focuses on books and reading; and Raphael, which covers Europe's cultural heritage. Secondly it has examined how the Community ties cultural aspects in with general EC policy in a 'First report on the consideration of cultural aspects in European Community action` (). Thirdly, it has engaged in a series of consultations with the Member States of the Union, the Member States of the European Economic Area, Cyprus, the associated countries of central and eastern Europe, and a large number of European cultural organizations.

1.2. The Committee of the Regions recognizes a number of positive features in the Commission's analyses. It realizes that action carried out under the three European cultural programmes has fostered trans-national cooperation, raised the profile of European cultural activities, ensured the protection and conservation of our heritage and has facilitated public access to culture, and enabled cultural creativity to be more and more highly regarded since it fosters innovation and the establishment of social networks, in particular exchange activities carried out in cultural areas common to European countries.

1.3. The COR nevertheless considers that the Commission's analyses display a number of shortcomings. There continues to be scant awareness of a common, open and diversified cultural area in Europe. Although cultural activities promoted by the Community are many and varied, they are also scattered thinly on the ground and do not generate structured and permanent networks of cooperation. The quantitative involvement of the Community in cultural projects is also a small percentage of the whole. All this means that European citizens are hardly aware of the Community's efforts and remain ignorant of what is being done to preserve and support their cultures. The process of building a multicultural and transnational European cultural area is therefore weak.

1.4. The management of cultural programmes is considered to be excessively bureaucratic, i.e. procedures are long and complex. This has an adverse effect on the efficiency of the service and means that European cultural programmes are largely terra incognito for the European public.

1.5. The Commission has stated that 'although considerable means are devoted to cultural activities or activities with a cultural dimension, the operations are rarely a response to the tasks assigned to the Community in the cultural field`, and has indicated its intention to ensure that 'in the definition and implementation of support policies, the objectives and the means of each instrument having an effect on the cultural field are consistent with the objectives and the means of Community cultural policy.`

2. General comments

2.1. The importance of culture for the future development of the European Union

2.1.1. Preserving cultural diversity

2.1.1.1. The basic principle underlying the process of European integration is respect for and the promotion of cultural diversity. Cultural diversity is a source of richness that needs to be preserved whilst its virtues need to be extolled as one of the main characteristics of Europe's identity. This cultural and linguistic diversity likewise embraces all local, regional, national and sub-state manifestations.

2.1.1.2. Europe therefore consists of a multitude of different cultures, most of them with a local or regional base. Moreover, Europe has a wide concept of culture which includes not only manifestations regarded as high-brow and elitist but also traditional, popular culture and modern mass culture.

2.1.1.3. Active participation in associations and voluntary educational organizations boosts people's commitment to social issues and their understanding of other cultures. The extensive programmes for cooperation between regions and/or municipalities and for town twinning have enriched cultural cooperation between towns and cities and strengthened a sense of solidarity and knowledge of different cultures. It should be stressed that the purpose of building a citizens' Europe is to foster greater cooperation and understanding among the peoples of Europe as opposed to levelling out differences or creating uniform structures. The COR feels that cooperation and dialogue need to be stepped up in the cultural sphere so as to ensure that cultural differences do not provoke disharmony but instead become an instrument for strengthening and uniting populations in a multicultural Europe, based on solidarity.

2.1.1.4. In the COR's view, therefore, the Member States' common drive to boost the importance of culture in the construction of Europe must draw on all the many players in the regions and municipalities. Among the permanent and enduring features of the culture of local and regional communities are local culture and cultural heritage. The preservation, nurturing and use of which as the milieu in which citizens live is at the very heart of a multicultural Europe. Local and regional authorities must therefore be given the wherewithal to launch cultural initiatives in their areas, by means of the appropriate allocation of resources.

2.1.1.5. The COR would focus attention on the special challenge that lies in preserving and promoting the diversity of Europe's cultures while at the same time consolidating the foundations of a common European identity. Local and regional initiatives play a key role in encouraging further cooperation and solidarity between municipalities and regions in both the present and the future Member States. Because of our shared history, European cultural identities have much in common.

2.1.1.6. In the interests of protecting European cultural and linguistic diversity, the Community should include among its priorities support for projects aimed at cultural and linguistic minorities. This would mean both support for specific cultural activities and looking at Community programmes in general.

2.1.1.7. In this respect, the COR calls on the EU to strengthen cooperation with the Council of Europe and UNESCO which have a wealth of experience in promoting cultural cooperation and the recognition of cultural diversity across the whole of Europe. In the context of enlargement, such cooperation may help facilitate the transition towards accession.

2.1.2. Culture and citizens' Europe

2.1.2.1. The political challenge of the European Union is to make respect for cultural and linguistic diversity compatible with the extension of a common European citizenship. One may conclude here that European citizenship will emerge from a multicultural and multilingual society, which will mean living together with a large number of local, regional, national or state sub-identities.

2.1.2.2. The COR consequently suggests that, if the Community is to meet the challenge of European integration whilst maintaining cultural and linguistic diversity, it will have to open up channels that permit the more active involvement of sub-state political levels in the process of European integration since the latter are better able to transmit the richness of the cultural and linguistic communities existing in Europe. More specifically, the Community should make it easier for regions and municipalities with full responsibilities for culture to take part in European cultural programmes through mechanisms sketched out in this Opinion. After all, it would only be a question of confirming at European level what is already recognized at Member State level.

2.1.3. Culture and local and regional development

2.1.3.1. Europe's future development and dynamism are increasingly interlinked with its cultural creativity, capacity to hold its own on the world market and future growth and employment. Culture is a major component of a region's development. Culture has an intrinsic value but it also plays an economic role as a major factor in attracting business and industry to an area. A vital cultural life with a wide range of cultural facilities therefore boosts the entire region's force of attraction. The COR sees culture as a seedbed of territorial cohesion in Europe, providing substantial added value and exercising a multiplier effect on regional and local development projects.

2.1.3.2. Cultural tourism is playing an increasingly important role in local and regional development. It stimulates trade and industry, the economy and employment in both urban and rural areas and helps to curb rural depopulation by providing a livelihood.

2.1.3.3. The development potential vested in audiovisual culture could open up significant economic opportunities, with Europe offering an alternative to US and Asian production. In order to be able to compete within the audio-visual sector, productions must be of high quality, which could be achieved through promotion of Europe's cultural diversity, fostered by its regional and local cultures. The COR stresses that the EU must reinforce the audiovisual industry promoting the creation of a regional media and film policy.

2.1.4. Culture and Employment

2.1.4.1. There is a growing awareness of the role that culture and its industries can play in contributing to economic and social cohesion and the opportunities that exist for future development. However, the COR considers that employment opportunities can only be realised if a number of weaknesses are effectively addressed and addressed within a comprehensive strategy which is firmly grounded at the local and regional levels.

2.1.4.2. The COR underlines the need to support those currently employed in the cultural sector, especially those involved in the creative side of the industry. Action needs to be taken to counter the precarious nature of employment and to improve the quality of employment in the sector, which in some industries is often low-paid, part-time and unstable.

2.1.4.3. The Committee of the Regions calls for appropriate levels of investment for the cultural sector, if the growth it has experienced in the past ten years is to be sustained. Culture should in the view of the COR be explicitly referred to in the Structural Fund regulations. Financial supports to the cultural sector should also be specifically tailored to meet the needs of culture and its industries. Sufficient attention also needs to be given to activities linked with the enhancement and optimization of cultural assets as well as to cultural tourism, with particular emphasis on small localities. To further develop cultural industries action is required to facilitate organisation of those involved in similar activities to pool knowledge of funding possibilities and develop opportunities for joint action.

2.1.4.4. The COR recognises the positive impacts of action already undertaken at Community level and calls for further measures to stimulate employment opportunities by promoting innovation and stimulating creativity, encouraging inter-regional exchange of experiences, developing support structures for cultural entrepreneurs, highlighting best practice and promoting experimental job creation schemes and developing cooperation within the cultural sector and with other economic activities.

2.1.4.5. The COR emphasises the need for reliable information on the cultural sector and would call for a comprehensive Community-wide approach to ensure that there is uniformity of employment classifications and a regular source of data that can be disaggregated and easily compared. Further investigation is also required to quantify the potential for expansion of some cultural industries.

2.1.4.6. Some cultural products destined to safeguard and promote cultural diversity should benefit from measures such as tax incentives, facilitating their integration into the market given that they would create new jobs related to the product itself.

2.1.5. Cultural action to promote integration and social cohesion

2.1.5.1. The COR would stress that culture can assist in alleviating social exclusion, isolation and marginalization of especially disadvantaged social groups. Some 18 million people are out of work in the EU. Culture and participation in cultural activities can provide them with new possibilities for strengthening their identity, their self-esteem and achieving a new status in society. Joining in cultural activities fosters dialogue and understanding between the different sections of society and between the many different cultures existing within the Community thereby contributing to tolerance, harmonious coexistence and peace. Such dialogue is vital since racism, xenophobia and friction are on the increase.

2.1.6. Role played by culture in EU external relations

2.1.6.1. The COR notes that culture confers prestige on Europe's foreign policy, opening up relations with third countries and maintaining links with millions of European citizens living and working abroad. Cultural cooperation with other countries promotes in particular sensitivity to the humanitarian values enshrined in the EU, in particular respect for human rights, freedom and democracy, tolerance and respect for cultural divergences. Here culture can propagate cultural dialogue at all levels, thereby defusing social tensions, violence and even conflicts.

2.1.6.2. The COR calls for culture to be supported and promoted as a vital component of EU external cooperation and peace policies. With this in mind, encouragement should be given to schemes aiming to promote mutual knowledge of the various communities active in the same geographical areas or in adjoining areas.

2.2. Access to culture

2.2.1. Opportunities to express creativity

2.2.1.1. The COR feels that it is important to involve citizens more closely in cultural actions and give them scope to express their creativity. To ensure broader participation and more deeply rooted democracy, within both the EU and the new Member States, it is essential that such opportunities should be created outside as well as within the professional cultural sphere.

2.2.2. Culture and Children and youth

2.2.2.1. The COR would point to the increasingly important role culture plays in our society. Consequently it must be given greater prominence in education and upbringing. To stimulate the creative powers and tolerance level towards other cultures of a child or young person is a major facet of their general development. By providing broader scope for such activities at school, culture will become accessible to all children and young people. In addition, children should be brought in touch with other cultures at an early age. It is important that the role of culture should be defined in school programmes.

2.2.3. Culture and social exclusion

2.2.3.1. The COR would emphasize that culture can contribute in reducing social marginalization in particular of disadvantaged groups in society and that it is very important that these groups have access to various cultural activities.

2.2.4. Culture for all

2.2.4.1. Culture must be made accessible to everyone and pay special heed to people with disabilities. Hence particular attention should be given to the production of, for instance, talking books, braille texts and easy-to-read literature, in tandem with the development and adjustment of IT methods to serve as aid and support for the disabled. To make culture accessible to everyone, suitably adapted premises are essential. To enable people with disabilities to be active cultural protagonists, special facilities will have to be provided such as helpers, interpretation and assistance from professional cultural staff. The COR would stress that such cultural activities will involve additional costs.

2.2.5. Access to culture in health care

2.2.5.1. Emotional experiences are essential for our survival and quality of life, especially when we become old and sick. Culture reinforces the positive side of our nature and is therefore of great importance for health. Research into cultural action in a health care environment points to encouraging results.

2.2.5.2. There are increasing numbers of elderly people in long-term care, and more and more people in need of care. Culture is beginning to play an important role as a bearer of humanistic values in the care sector. In the run-up to EU enlargement, it is essential to promote cooperation with the new Member States on developing the role of culture in care services.

2.2.6. Culture and equal opportunities

2.2.6.1. The COR underlines the importance of highlighting action to promote equal opportunities in the cultural sector. The programme should also provide scope for projects which support women's distinctive creativity.

2.2.7. Access to information, books and reading

2.2.7.1. The extensive network of public libraries in the EU stems from local and regional commitment and needs. Libraries cooperate internationally, nationally, regionally and locally and are therefore a major resource in giving citizens access to literature and objective information and allowing them to use new technologies when consulting data bases. It is crucial to make it possible for people irrespective of where they live, their culture or traditions, to keep informed and to participate in the democratic process.

2.2.7.2. The COR notes the important contribution made by local and regional authorities in creating public libraries for local people, in setting up telematic networks to make their contents available in both urban and rural areas and in facilitating exchanges between libraries. By linking together all parts of the country, public libraries are a real force for spreading and promoting European culture.

2.2.7.3. The COR would stress the importance of publishing literature in minority languages and providing support for translations.

3. Specific comments

3.1. The first European Community framework programme in support of culture (2000-2004)

3.1.1. Objectives and guidelines for 'Culture 2000`

3.1.1.1. The COR welcomes the single framework of the programme. It maintains that the proposal denotes a more incisive yet still inadequately funded EU cultural policy and stresses that local and regional cultural action is the pillar of the cultural diversity which the Community seeks to promote under this new programme.

3.1.1.2. The COR agrees with the objectives of the programme, although it proposes that pride of place be given to the aim of disseminating mutual knowledge about cultural diversity and the histories of our European peoples, emphasizing their unique features. The COR also proposes that emphasis be placed on the concept of 'cultures` in the plural.

3.1.1.3. It hopes that the final version of the proposal will formulate the approach to be pursued to ensure that implementation effectively attains the specific objectives set out. The COR also observes with satisfaction that the programme is open to those central and eastern European countries which have concluded association agreements with the Community, as well as to Cyprus and the European Economic Area countries. It views cultural cooperation as particularly important for the applicant countries since it allows them, at an early stage, to work in liaison with EU citizens.

3.1.1.4. It endorses the new approach of the Commission to the Community's cultural activities, i.e. prioritizing projects with a Community dimension which contribute to the development of a European cultural area, are visible for the European citizen, have a real communicative impact, seek to ensure the concentration of activities, seek more stable forms of cooperation between operators, support innovation and new forms of cultural expression, and are run less bureaucratically.

3.1.2. Actions to implement the programme

3.1.2.1. The COR is concerned that the actions to implement the programme are balanced towards favouring high impact, large-scale activities. Despite sharing the Commission's view that the Community's cultural activities need to be more visible, the COR would draw attention to the dangers in this. This might lead to the spotlight being turned on major events and an elite culture, with less importance attached to popular, everyday cultural manifestations. It must be remembered that citizens will not identify with Europe if Europe is not part of their daily lives. Cultural activities might be reduced to a superficial level where the spectacle and ephemeral communication is the be-all and end-all of everything and there are no positive long-term repercussions.

3.1.2.2. Concentrating efforts on a smaller number of activities with a major impact may be prejudicial to the involvement of the regions; this chimes with the views already expressed by the COR in its Opinion on Kaleidoscope which states that 'supporting or encouraging emblematic, tightly-defined, high-profile projects which already receive substantial local or national support will militate against support for creative people from different regions of Europe coming together in a more unstructured way`. The COR adds here that local and regional authorities and organizations can find it hard to participate in projects since they require substantial own resources in the shape of funding and staff.

3.1.2.3. Small scale local projects on the other hand may bring lasting impulsions from which long term partnerships and multiplier effects may emerge which provide an important added-value to EU cultural action. It should also be noted that innovatory and creative activities most frequently stem from local and regional initiatives. Moreover, local and regional organizations and associations are closest to the people and are therefore able to stimulate more active involvement in cultural activities in terms of contacts with artists, voluntary organizations, education establishments and the population in general and be able get through more effectively to 'disadvantaged` groups. They are thus best able to ensure the widest access as possible to cultural activities and maximum benefit of opportunities available.

(i) Cultural cooperation agreements

3.1.2.4. The COR welcomes the proposed cooperation agreements that aim to create a network of operators, cultural organizations and cultural institutions in the Community but is highly sceptical regarding the condition that project approval is dependent on the agreement being signed by as many as seven States.

3.1.2.5. In the COR's view the Culture 2000 programme should promote cross-cultural rather than inter-state relations. Bearing in mind the fact that cross-cultural relations lend themselves more to the participation of regions and local authorities, the Committee proposes that the participation of such authorities should also be accepted, particularly those which have transferred their cultural responsibles, as full members, to European cultural cooperation projects. This is of course provided that they can guarantee cross-cultural interactions by virtue of representing diverse cultures within the confines of their own particular Member State.

(ii) Major actions

3.1.2.6. The COR has doubts about several of the actions mentioned in the proposal (Europe Day, festival in the Member State holding the EU Presidency, etc.). Such activities risk being 'one off` projects which fail to involve the public at large. The European City of Culture event shows, however, the scope that exists for creating the desired sustainable networks and involving grassroots local and regional organizations.

3.1.2.7. In the COR's view, one-third of the funding earmarked for major actions should be transferred to specific actions.

(iii) Specific actions

3.1.2.8. The COR advocates that more support be given to the specific actions since such projects lend themselves to participation by local and regional organizations and associations. The impact achieved by projects implemented at local and regional level will have a beneficial spin-off for local and regional development. Special attention should be given to projects focusing on disadvantaged groups or with children and youth as target group.

3.1.2.9. The Committee recommends that action directed towards third countries should come under the Specific Projects section and that ad hoc activities should be introduced, given the specific nature of these projects and their high cost. The range of such actions should also be limited in the interests of ensuring a clear grasp of the programme's objectives. The COR does not agree with the stipulation requiring Specific Projects to be developed in conjunction with cultural operators from at least four Member States.

3.1.2.10. In addition to our earlier justification of the greater involvement of regional and local authorities, we would propound a number of additional arguments in this particular case. Firstly, the classification of a project as innovative depends on the regional context since what is innovative in one region is not likely to be innovative in another. Secondly, regional and local levels are much closer to European citizens, and are consequently more suitable for developing projects that allow disadvantaged social circles to gain access to culture.

3.1.2.11. For all these reasons the COR proposes that local and regional authorities be involved in this case too, and especially those authorities which have transferred their cultural responsibilities, as full members, to Specific Projects under the 'Culture 2000` programme. This is of course providing that they can guarantee cross-cultural interactions by virtue of representing diverse cultures within the confines of their own particular Member State.

3.1.2.12. The COR calls for special support to be given, within the framework of the Specific Projects scheme, to projects designed to foster cooperation between the local and regional authorities of different Member States but which share the same culture. Given the uniqueness of such projects, the COR supports schemes guaranteeing more flexible transnational requirements.

3.1.3. Administration and application procedures

3.1.3.1. The COR takes the view that the administration of European cultural programmes must be more efficient; form-filling must be simplified; a sufficient period of time must be allowed for the submission of applications; and procedures must be speeded up so that funds can be disbursed as soon as possible.

3.1.3.2. Mention should be made of the problems which have arisen over late payment of funds to the selected projects which can make it virtually impossible for many organizations to benefit properly from EU support. In the COR Opinion on 'the role of voluntary organizations a contribution to a European society` (), the COR has indicated a model designed to facilitate their participation. This model enables associations to step up cooperation with private foundations. Several examples can be found in the Member States of arrangements whereby foundations make advance liquid capital payments to associations to assist them in their partnership with the EU Commission.

3.1.4. Advisory committee

3.1.4.1. Given culture's local and regional roots and the cultural responsibility borne by local and regional authorities, the advisory committee set up to assist the Commission in the implementation of the programme should include local and regional representatives.

3.1.5. Financing

3.1.5.1. The COR suggests that one-third of the appropriations earmarked for major actions be transferred to specific actions, along with a share of the funding allocated to cooperation agreements.

3.1.5.2. The COR considers that the ECU 167 million earmarked for the 'Culture 2000` programme from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004 is insufficient and should be significantly increased in view of the importance of culture in the European venture.

3.1.6. Contact points

3.1.6.1. The Commission, together with the Member States, is planning to set up information and contact points to promote the 'Culture 2000` programme, to encourage the participation of professionals and to guarantee the necessary coordination between the various institutions providing aid to the cultural sector in the Member States so that the measures taken by the Member States complement the 'Culture 2000` programme. The COR agrees fully with these objectives but believes that decentralizing information points and support mechanisms through the involvement of regional and local authorities would be a much more effective way of ensuring that the Community's cultural programmes reach European citizens and that relations between local artists and European authorities are broadened. Furthermore, the COR supports the use of existing decentralized points where that is possible.

3.1.7. Evaluation

3.1.7.1. The COR is interested in taking part in programme evaluation and in contributing with its experience from the local and regional level, where the largest proportion of all cultural work, including cultural cooperation within the Community, will take place.

3.1.7.2. The Committee believes that an assessment of the impact of the programme for regional and local authorities should be carried out before the end of the year 2002 and its results taken into account for the purpose of possibly amending the programme, as provided for under Article 6 of the Commission proposal. The COR likewise calls for an analysis of the advantages and merits of projects from the point of their impact on local and regional culture, both in terms of selection criteria and follow-up mechanisms.

3.1.7.3. In the COR's view, completed projects which no longer receive EU funding need to be followed up. Those projects which result in networks and lasting partnerships should receive support. Similarly, national, regional and local policies should strive to promote and facilitate their continued operation.

3.2. Comments on the explicit integration of cultural aspects into community policies

3.2.1. The COR firmly supports the Commission's proposal to lay down a framework for 2000-2004 designed to ensure that the objectives and means of those general Community policies that impinge on cultural matters are more compatible with the objectives and means of the Community's cultural action proper. The reason why this proposal is so important is because the influence of some Community programmes on culture is more powerful than the Community's specific cultural action.

3.2.2. The COR applauds the measures taken by the Commission to create a legislative framework favourable to culture. It regards as particularly necessary the Commission's decisions on the prevention of illicit trade in cultural goods in the single market, the protection of the national treasures of the Member States, the voluntary application by the Member States of a reduced rate of VAT to specific cultural goods and services, and the harmonization of aspects relating to the problems of copyright. However, the COR would draw the Commission's attention to the 1992 copyright directive which provides for the introduction of a lending right fee in libraries. Exemptions should be possible for libraries so as to encourage reading among the general public, especially in disadvantaged areas where libraries are a focus of social integration.

3.2.3. The COR also agrees with the Commission on the need to a) introduce fixed book-price agreements within homogeneous linguistic areas in Europe, b) apply a reduced rate of VAT to records, multimedia supports and the conservation and restoration of monuments, c) recommend that Member States introduce favourable tax incentives for the company sponsorship and patronage of cultural activities, and d) submit proposals on removing obstacles to the free movement and cross-border mobility of artists and those working in the field of culture.

3.2.4. The COR also endorses the Commission's intention to identify Community programmes which have a major impact on culture. This means on the one hand programmes linked to telecommunications, such as the Telematics Applications Programme (TAP), Advanced Communication Technologies and Services (ACTS), Multilingual Programmes (MLPA and MLIS), TEN-Telecom and INFO 2000. On the other hand it means programmes falling within the future Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (1998-2002), including the thematic programmes 'Preserving the Ecosystem` and 'Creating a User-Friendly Information Society`. Thirdly it means looking at the new Structural Funds (2000-2006) and particularly the operational programmes of the European regions, the Community Initiative Programmes and the European Social Fund. Cooperation between the Structural Funds and the new framework programme for culture is particularly necessary. Culture, as an asset in local and regional development, should be accorded a higher profile in projects receiving Structural Fund aid. Last but not least, there is the educational and training policy which the Community will be developing through the future Socrates II, Leonardo Da Vinci II and Youth for Europe IV programmes.

3.2.5. Since it is important for European institutions to develop a horizontal policy on culture along the lines of what is happening for example in the environment, the COR considers that it is necessary to devise a mechanism which will ensure that cultural aspects are taken into account in all Community programmes. In any such mechanism there would have to be a place for the Committee of the Regions whilst each individual Community programme would have to include operational objectives, a budget, and mechanisms for evaluating the extent to which cultural objectives are met.

3.2.6. With regard to the third axis, i.e. the Community's general policy on culture in the context of external relations, the COR supports the Commission's proposal and underlines the role of culture in the Community's external relations policy and enlargement process. This is consistent with the line taken in 'Agenda 2000`.

3.2.7. Finally, the COR approves the Commission's proposal to include comparable Community cultural statistics for the five year period between 1998 and 2002 and takes the view that such statistics will in future facilitate the follow-up to and evaluation of Community action in the cultural field.

4. Conclusions

The Committee of the Regions:

4.1. welcomes the proposal for a single framework programme and observes with pleasure that the Commission has framed a cultural policy for the Community which highlights and clarifies cultural issues;

4.2. considers that the programme can make a valuable contribution to the enlargement process since it is also open to the applicant countries. Participation in projects fosters understanding and interest in other cultures, builds networks and stimulates cooperation and exchanges within the cultural sphere, with the result that the new Member States' accession to the EU will be made easier;

4.3. considers that the cultural sector provides the opportunity of employment creation but would call for more intensive efforts to be made to quantify and analyse its impacts and to address the weaknesses and threats which may prevent the cultural sector from maximising its employment creating potential;

4.4. would emphasize the need to earmark resources for programmes open to children and young people and which seek to support and foster their individual creative powers and give them the opportunity to understand and respect other cultures;

4.5. would point out that action to promote equality needs to receive special attention and that the programme must provide scope for projects designed to stimulate women's distinctive creativity;

4.6. calls for attention to be given to the additional costs involved in cultural projects focusing on people with disabilities;

4.7. feels that the programme's practical working methods should be framed to allow a large number of people to be active protagonists and share responsibility for projects;

4.8. underlines the need to cut redtape and streamline formalities for applications;

4.9. calls on the Community to include among its priorities support for projects involving cultural and linguistic minorities - relating both to specific cultural action and Community programmes in general;

4.10. calls on the Community to make it possible for regions and municipalities, particularly those with full responsibilities for culture, to take a more active part in European cultural programmes;

4.11. stresses that as guarantors of local and regional culture local and regional authorities should be included in the advisory committee set up to assist the Commission in the implementation of the programme;

4.12. underlines that Regional and local authorities, particularly those which exercise their cultural responsibilities, must be regarded as full members in respect of European cultural cooperation projects and in respect of the Specific Projects falling under the 'Culture 2000` programme, provided that they can guarantee cross-cultural interactions by virtue of representing diverse cultures within the confines of their own particular Member State;

4.13. proposes that the contact points providing information and support for the implementation of the 'Culture 2000` programme be decentralized and put in the hands of local and regional authorities and that existing information points are used wherever possible;

4.14. proposes the compilation of a report analysing the impact of the 'Culture 2000` programme from the point of view of local and regional authorities. It also considers that this impact should be taken into consideration when drawing up selection criteria and preparing follow-up measures for cultural projects;

4.15. considers that 'eye-catching visibility` cannot be the sole criterion, nor even the foremost criterion, in the Community's cultural action. It suggests that one-third of the appropriations earmarked for major actions, along with a share of the funding allocated to cooperation agreements, be transferred to specific actions;

4.16. considers that the funds allocated to the 'Culture 2000` programme from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2004 (ECU 167 million) are absolutely insufficient;

4.17. considers that it is necessary to devise a mechanism which will ensure that cultural aspects are taken into account in all Community programmes. In any such mechanism there would have to be a place for the Committee of the Regions whilst each individual Community programme would have to include operational objectives, a budget and mechanisms for evaluating the extent to which cultural objectives are met.

4.18. The COR calls for the Structural Funds' regulations to make specific mention of culture with a view to supporting regional and local cultural policies, in particular those contributing to spatial planning and employment promotion.

Brussels, 19 November 1998.

The President of the Committee of the Regions

Manfred DAMMEYER

() OJ C 211, 7.7.1998, p. 18.

() OJ C 100, 2.4.1996, p. 30.

() OJ C 100, 2.4.1996, p. 35.

() OJ C 100, 2.4.1996, p. 119.

() OJ C 116, 14.4.1997, p. 65.

() COM(96) 160 final.

() CdR 306/97 fin - OJ C 180, 11.6.1998, p. 57.