ANNEX I

I. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The EU Work Plan for Culture is based on the following guiding principles:

— Culture, including cultural heritage, has an intrinsic value and contributes to strengthening European identity.

— Cultural and linguistic diversity are fundamental assets of the EU and are to be respected, promoted and enhanced, including through mobility and the circulation of works.

— Freedom of artistic expression and creativity are fundamental to the human ability to address challenges, to think critically, to innovate and to invent, and they must be encouraged and supported in all relevant ways.

— Cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue are essential for the promotion and protection of human rights; they foster mutual understanding, help prevent and resolve conflicts and promote reconciliation, peace and international stability, and any misuse of culture with the aim of spreading war propaganda and disinformation and of instigating hatred is incompatible with the fundamental values and principles of the EU.

— Culture makes a significant contribution to sustainable development, the economy and social inclusion, enhancing territorial cohesion.

— Culture has the potential to promote equality and mutual respect, and to fight against all forms of violence, discrimination, intolerance and prejudice.

— Implementation should be supported by optimised use of quality data and statistics.

II. PRIORITY AREAS

a) Artists and cultural professionals: empowering the cultural and creative sectors

The cultural and creative ecosystem is inconceivable without the people who create cultural content in countless forms: artists and other cultural and creative professionals, institutions and organisations. Strong cultural and creative sectors (CCS) are therefore indispensable. However, they are characterised by self-employment, small and micro-enterprises, high competitiveness and fragmented markets. Artists and cultural and creative professionals tend to have project-based careers and experience a high degree of mobility. They often have an irregular and unpredictable income and combine several jobs to earn a living.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCS have displayed great adaptability and innovativeness. Nevertheless, they have been seriously impacted and continue to be affected by the consequences of the pandemic.

The ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine and its effects on the cultural and creative ecosystem, highlight cultural actors’ integral role in democratic societies and the importance of safeguarding the freedom of artistic expression, which is coming under increasing pressure.

Now more than ever, there is an urgent need to further strengthen the resilience of the CCS, to support their recovery and diversity, to encourage their engagement with the sustainability objectives, to capitalise on new trends accelerated by the pandemic, including in the digital environment, and to ensure fair working conditions for all cultural and creative professionals so that more voices can be heard from this independent and dynamic sector.

b) Culture for the people: enhancing cultural participation and the role of culture in society

Culture, including cultural heritage, plays a crucial role in our democracies and in the lives of individuals. Participation in culture and cultural heritage, creativity and the arts has a positive impact on people of all ages and backgrounds; it enhances people’s quality of life, and improves the health and overall well-being of individuals and communities. Cultural participation facilitates social and territorial cohesion, while fostering respect for cultural and linguistic diversity and providing a platform for open dialogue within civil societies.

Cultural and linguistic diversity are among Europe’s key assets and, as such, must be respected and promoted, paying particular attention to lesser-used languages. Special attention is needed to ensure children’s and young people’s participation in cultural life and their reading capacity, fostering their creativity and enriching their experience. An inclusive approach to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups is equally important.

Cultural institutions play a vital role in strengthening democracy and social well-being by reaching out to the whole community, providing affordable or free access to knowledge and information, in full respect of intellectual property rights, enhancing media literacy, creating common ground for dialogue and debate, and thereby strengthening social integration and community engagement, and ultimately contributing to combating disinformation, hate speech and fake news. This role of cultural institutions must be further nurtured.

In this regard, the current work plan pays special attention to fostering the development of libraries. Many libraries also provide a peaceful and safe environment for vulnerable people, which is currently of specific relevance with regard to the many displaced people from Ukraine and their need for physical and mental shelter.

c) Culture for the planet: unleashing the power of culture

The cultural and creative ecosystems in Europe and beyond are facing serious threats of both natural and human origin, with climate change in particular having a long-term impact on European cultural and creative sectors. It is essential that cultural heritage and the CCS be prepared for future challenges. It is high time to act on risk preparedness in cultural heritage and on strengthening cultural heritage’s resilience to climate change. The EU will continue, and will intensify, the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural goods.

Culture, including cultural heritage, contributes to the sustainability transformation needed to meet the objectives of the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda. In this context, digital technologies also play a key role. Therefore, innovation in the cultural and creative sectors, digital transformation and the accessibility of culture and cultural heritage in the digital space must be further strengthened. The EIT KIC Culture and Creativity (1) will have a key role in this respect. It is also necessary to take a balanced approach to the built environment. Wide-scale promotion of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative could help raise awareness of the importance of quality architecture and built environment.

Furthermore, research and cultural statistics should be improved in order to be able to better monitor the performance of the CCS and develop efficient evidence-based policies to support them. Eurostat should play a central and increasing role in cooperation with other international and independent organisations working in the field of research and statistics in the CCS.

d) Culture for co-creative partnerships: strengthening the cultural dimension of EU external relations

Europe’s cultural richness and freedom, the EU’s bottom-up approach rooted in civil society and the EU’s strong engagement in co-creation are strong assets for international relations from the perspective of building sustainable partnerships on an equal footing. It is highly important to make full use of this potential by not only increasing the number of cultural cooperation activities and projects but also their visibility and outreach.

Russia’s war against Ukraine is a clear indication both of gradually changing geopolitical realities and of the misuse of culture and heritage to help justify military aggression. Against this background, cultural co-creation can authentically underpin and credibly communicate our European values, including artistic liberties and cultural rights, in large parts of the world, and thus help contain the reach of authoritarian systems.

Bearing in mind the future of our planet and the common goal of sustainability, more cultural ambition for change and intellectual dialogue that paves the way for joint approaches in the spirit of the NEB (sustainable, inclusive, beautiful) is needed. Close coordination at EU level and the integration of culture into all relevant areas of the EU’s external action and into appropriate financial instruments will be key to strengthening the role of culture in EU external relations.

III. IMPLEMENTATION AND WORKING METHODS

1. The Council invites the Member States, the Commission and, for the external action aspects, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to work together on implementing actions under the Work Plan on the basis of a rolling agenda as set out in Chapter IV and Annex A. The timetable in Annex A is by its nature indicative and will be implemented by subsequent Presidencies as appropriate.

2. Regular dialogue and cooperation among Member States, EU institutions, civil society, international organisations and third-country partners is expected to create a holistic approach which supports synergies and, where appropriate, policy coherence, encourages mutual learning and can lead to better results.

3. The realisation of the Work Plan and the implementation of the Creative Europe Programme through its annual work plans and other culture-related programmes and activities should complement each other in a synergetic way.

4. The EU Work Plan for Culture should be monitored by the Presidency of the Council and, if necessary, may be adjusted by the Council in light of results achieved and/or relevant policy developments at European or international level.

5. Topics in each priority area are addressed through several actions (Chapter IV), using the most appropriate working method(s). The final outcome of each action, together with a corresponding report outlining conclusions and recommendations, where appropriate, will be presented to the Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC) and, where appropriate, to the Audiovisual and Media Working Party (AVMWP) for discussion and a possible decision on future steps.

6. Flexibility in the provisions and implementation of the EU Work Plan for Culture is essential in order to be able to react to ongoing and future challenges and a changing policy environment.

7. The following working methods, ( 2 ) among others, can be used: the Open Method of Coordination (OMC); ad hoc or Commission-led expert groups and roundtables; peer-learning activities; experimental and pilot-type actions; think-tank meetings; studies; conferences; stocktaking seminars or other stocktaking formats; dialogue with civil society; formal and informal workshops; joint initiatives with the Council of Europe and other international organisations; Council conclusions; and informal meetings of officials from Ministries of Culture and, when appropriate, other ministries.

IV. ACTIONS

In relation to the priority areas and working methods described in Chapters II and III, the following actions will be carried out:

a) Artists and cultural professionals: empowering the cultural and creative sectors

— Status and working conditions of artists and cultural and creative professionals

Working methods: Follow-up to the ongoing OMC group; thematic workshops; possible conference.

Rationale: As a follow-up to the OMC expert group, an online platform is proposed to provide information about artists’ and cultural and creative professionals’ working conditions in the EU Member States. The platform will be based on valuable data and material gathered also in cooperation with social partners represented in various cultural sectors and should continuously take updates and new measures into account. In addition, topics such as diversity, mobility and a gender perspective will also be considered. This would help to obtain information on the working conditions across the EU and better cope with administrative requirements, as regards social security and other aspects such as taxation. Exchanging experience with regard to the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) for this topic should be also taken into consideration.

Target outputs: An online platform to enable continuous exchange of information and good practices among stakeholders with regard to improving artists’ and creative professionals’ working conditions; stocktaking of progress and work on specific recommendations on the Status of the Artist (3).

— Artistic freedom

Working methods: Conference, followed by related Council conclusions.

Rationale: Artistic freedom is a fundamental part of cultural work, and the protection of artistic freedom has proved to be an important element as regards strengthening the link between culture and democracy. Artists and stakeholders within the cultural sector are facing new and increasingly difficult challenges. Joint efforts to enable artists and cultural actors to freely exercise their professions throughout the EU are therefore of utmost importance. This issue not only concerns terms and conditions for artists, but also determines whose voices are heard.

Target outputs: Exchanging ideas and best practices by discussing different perspectives and policy development to stimulate positive change.

— Stimulate the digital transformation of the cultural and creative sectors

Working methods: Conference, possibly followed by related Council conclusions.

Rationale: Digitisation has resulted in a profound transformation of the cultural and creative sectors in the past decade. It has brought about fundamental changes to the way professionals in these sectors operate and to the relationships between them and with their audiences. However, fragmentation of efforts and a lack of collaboration on a larger scale hinder a strong and agile approach to digital transformation.

Target outputs: Exchanging experience to identify transferable best practices in order to promote a coherent and sustainable digital transformation across the CCS.

— Stimulate the green transition of the cultural and creative sectors, with a specific focus on the energy crisis

Working methods: Workshop(s) / OMC; a stocktaking exercise on the energy crisis for sharing best practices.

Rationale: The CCS must not be left behind in the green transition. They must reinforce their contribution to a sustainable future and play an active role in the green transition, climate action and Europe’s recovery, with a specific focus on the current energy crisis, while considering the Union’s geographical diversity and characteristics. A variety of practices and initiatives have already been tried out. The work under this action should reflect the outcomes of the OMC groups on the cultural dimension of sustainable development and on strengthening cultural heritage resilience for climate change. Exchanging experience with regard to the RRF for this topic should also be taken into consideration.

Target outputs: Exchanging experiences and identifying transferable best practices in the CCS (especially in performing arts, music, museums, film production), including on CO2 calculators; supporting CCS efforts to adapt to the green transition.

— Enhancing the cultural and creative dimension in the European video games sector

Working method: A series of roundtables and/or think-tank meeting.

Rationale: As a follow-up to the Council conclusions on a European Strategy for the Cultural and Creative Industries Ecosystem and the European Parliament initiative report and pilot project on video games, discussions at European level can identify avenues to support the cultural and creative dimension in the European video games sector, which is at the forefront of new cultural practices in the digital environment. These discussions could also explore issues related to financing mechanisms, especially for SMEs and start-ups; independence, freedom of creation and diversity of cultural expressions; skills and training; creative and technological innovation; new uses of video games for supporting the access of culture; the role of video games in educational purposes, etc.

Target outputs: Recommendations to support the cultural and creative dimension of the European video games sector and reinforce collaboration between European stakeholders in this field.

b) Culture for the people: enhancing cultural participation and the role of culture in society

— Culture and promoting democracy: towards cultural citizenship in Europe

Working methods: Peer-learning and possible conference bringing together policy makers and relevant stakeholders in the cultural and educational sectors.

Rationale: In the spirit of the Porto Santo Charter and based on the study commissioned in the framework of the Work Plan for Culture 2019–2022, it is necessary to intensify and broaden citizen participation, particularly among the younger generations, and to legitimise decision-making processes, engaging the whole community in decision-making, creation, production, communication, mediation and fruition. Cross-sectoral synergies between schools, cultural organisations, civil society and other actors must be established, in order to fully harness the transformative potential of culture for enhancing democracy.

Target outputs: Sharing experience and selection of examples of best practice.

— Culture and health

Working methods: possible conference; possible informal meetings of officials from ministries of culture and ministries of health; short-term OMC group on including culture in health policies – exchanging good practices with a special focus on mental health.

Rationale: Cultural activities can support illness prevention, health promotion, and management and treatment of illnesses. Cultural activities offer a holistic approach and have a positive impact on people of all ages and backgrounds, enhance people’s quality of life and increase the health and overall well-being of individuals and communities. There is also a significant economic impact. The OMC can build on the results of the 2022 preparatory action ‘Culture for Health’ and on previous research and work undertaken on this topic.

Target outputs: Raising awareness of the positive effects of culture and creating more cross-sectoral cooperation among decision-makers; recommendations for implementing participatory cultural practices, with a focus on mental health; continue mapping good practices.

— Building bridges: strengthen the multiple roles of libraries as gateways to and transmitters of cultural works, skills and European values

Working methods: OMC group; workshops; conference.

Rationale: Libraries play a key role in Europe’s democratic, social, cultural, and educational landscape at all levels. They make a significant contribution to building democracy, citizen engagement and public-participation activities across the EU, including in rural and remote areas, including the outermost regions. They welcome diverse groups, develop programmes and activities reflecting current societal challenges, and provide access to pluralist and reliable information and diverse cultural content in safe and accessible environments. They are essential gateways to local and indigenous data, knowledge, research and culture.

Target outputs: Starting a comprehensive debate and explore fields for promoting and strengthening libraries; identifying different dimensions and areas with potential, and exploring funding lines under EU programmes; bringing together policy makers and library professionals; explore possibilities for training and further activities for professionals.

— Protection of children and young people from harmful content on digital platforms

Working methods: Workshop(s)/round table discussion(s).

Rationale: Today, children and young people are present in large numbers on digital platforms, which offer enormous positive potential. However, this also increases the risk of vulnerable groups being exposed to harmful content or misinformation, and of addiction. It is possible to build on the European strategy for a better internet for kids, the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the rules on protection of minors in the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD). Moreover, in order to protect children and young people against harmful content, media literacy and critical understanding of media and platforms are particularly important and relevant.

Target outputs: Identifying and supporting best practices to ensure the protection and empowerment of children and young people online, both in the Member States and at EU level.

— Discoverability of diverse European cultural content in the digital environment

Working methods: Technical study and/or workshop.

Rationale: The discoverability of cultural content depends on how the data has been produced and documented, and also on content management by the big platforms, which act as gatekeepers. European content must be discoverable, beyond simply being available online. It is essential to build on existing work and consultations (e.g. Media Outlook, European Audiovisual Observatory, Europeana), to understand better the impact that content prioritisation practices, algorithm recommendations and curation strategies have on cultural and linguistic diversity, and find common solutions to increase the exposure of high-quality European content online, including suitable data-driven income models.

Target outputs: Recommendations; review of innovative projects and specific tools, but also of difficulties regarding access to content (including people with disabilities or lower income), with a focus on less-explored and less-regulated sectors such as music or books.

c) Culture for the planet: unleashing the power of culture

— Cultural statistics – to build resilience in and through culture

Working methods: Series of workshops and/or peer-learning activities; discussions with Eurostat and EU Member States’ statistical offices.

Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted several structural challenges and vulnerabilities in the cultural and creative sectors. Important support measures have already been taken at national and EU level, but further steps still need to be taken, such as increased exchange of best practices among the Member States and the development of a set of reliable culture statistics, comparable across the EU, including on gender inequalities in the CCS. It is important to build on the results of the 2022 pilot project ‘Measuring the cultural and creative sectors in Europe’ and work in close collaboration with Eurostat.

Target outputs: Exchanging best practices among the Member States; identification and development of a set of harmonised and comparable statistics across the EU, covering gender equality aspects, the labour dimension, economic support for the sector, and cultural participation, with relevant social-demographic breakdowns.

— Cultural governance

Working methods: Think-tank meeting, possibly followed by related Council conclusions.

Rationale: The world is currently facing a multitude of rapid changes. New ways of thinking and innovative approaches are therefore required, as well as transversal and integrated approaches on cultural governance, based on recent developments, research and innovation, are deemed necessary in order to put culture at the heart of public life.

Target outputs: Development of a new model of cultural governance proposing future-oriented approaches to holistically address current challenges.

— Climate action through culture, including the arts and cultural heritage

Working methods: Follow-up to the 2022 OMC reports; workshops, possibly followed by related Council conclusions.

Rationale: Culture, including the arts and cultural heritage, can play a key role in triggering climate action and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. Culture can take an active role in climate action and stimulate a change of mindset towards the climate crisis. Our cultural heritage can be safeguarded through sharing best practices on targeted protection measures and, at the same time, it can be a source of good practice and knowledge regarding climate adaptation. The cooperation should build on the OMC reports on strengthening cultural heritage resilience for climate change and on the cultural dimension of sustainable development.

Target outputs: Exchanging knowledge regarding innovative artistic and cultural approaches, including measures under the RRF, to address the climate crisis and help transform behaviour to address the climate crisis; advancing EU-funded research on the topic.

— High-quality living environment for everyone

Working methods: European Directors for Architectural Policies (EDAP) meetings; promotion of the NEB initiative via post-OMC expert network exchanges; possible organisation of a European conference on architectural policies.

Rationale: In line with the work and report of the OMC group of EU Member States experts on investing in a high-quality architecture and living environment for everyone (2021) and with the Council conclusions on culture, high-quality architecture and built environment as key elements of the NEB initiative (2021), the EDAP gather under each Council presidency to consider possible initiatives to achieve a high-quality living environment for everyone, including those living in rural and remote areas, such as outermost regions. The EDAP meetings could focus in particular on topics such as the quality of tomorrow’s housing, the restoration, renovation and adapted re-use of cultural heritage, and improvements of architecture competitions and public procurement. It is essential to build synergies with the NEB network.

Target outputs: Exchanging good practices among the EDAP; taking stock of the existing legislative frameworks and relevant initiatives in the field and possibly starting a process to monitor and champion the inclusion of high-quality standards in new and revised policies and programmes; NEB-related actions.

— Safeguarding heritage against natural and human-made disasters

Working methods: Peer-learning activities (workshops, visits) and/or conference.

Rationale: Natural and human-made disasters and crises (such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war against Ukraine) require strengthened risk-assessment skills, improved disaster preparedness, and coordinated actions in a transversal approach in order to safeguard cultural heritage, including intangible cultural heritage. It is necessary, while building on existing work, to further integrate cultural heritage into wider policies and initiatives at all levels, and to utilise existing common European platforms and developing projects (e.g. European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage, HEREIN) for exchange, discussion and sharing of knowledge and expertise on risk preparedness and management, recovery and rehabilitation of cultural heritage.

Target outputs: Building the capacity and skills of stakeholders; producing a comprehensive inventory of relevant manuals, guidelines and methodology at European level to facilitate the effective design and implementation of risk and emergency preparedness measures in and by Member States.

— Exchanging information between cultural heritage professionals and competent authorities for cultural goods on the fight against trafficking cultural goods

Working methods: Series of workshops complementary to the upcoming EU Action Plan against Trafficking in Cultural Goods for 2023–2027 and/or peer-learning activities.

Rationale: EU legislation on the import and export of cultural goods deals with challenges at cross border trafficking in relation to the protection of cultural heritage. The competent authorities are confronted with several challenges (verification methods, documentation, data analysis, understanding how the art market works, including its shift to the internet, etc.). It is essential to ensure efficient cooperation between all actors involved, including ministries of culture, regional and local institutions, cultural heritage professionals, law enforcement agencies, special police forces, customs and judicial authorities, and art market professionals.

Target outputs: Assessing and improving cooperation between the actors involved; gaining insight into each other’s working methods; identifying risks and problems; and working on possible recommendations for improvements.

d) Culture for co-creative partnerships: strengthening the cultural dimension of EU external relations

— Governance of the EU strategic approach to international cultural relations and framework

Working methods: short-term OMC, senior officials’ meetings.

Rationale: Culture’s role in external relations has been enshrined in a number of recent milestone EU documents. Nevertheless, coordination and bridging gaps between different stakeholders involved in implementation remains a challenge at all levels, both for the EU and for Member States. Structuring the cooperation between all relevant actors and strengthening equal footing of interests, including artists and cultural professionals, is therefore necessary. Bearing in mind the principle of co-creation in the EU’s external relations, working methods need to be adapted for cohesive decision shaping on a continuous basis, including for the definition of regional and thematic priorities (e.g. in the context of partnerships with candidate countries) or the preparation of EU flagship actions (e.g. book fairs, world exhibitions, fairs and festivals, etc.).

Target outputs: Cross-cutting and inclusive methodology, including proposals for future working structures and methods that would ensure a reinforced, coherent and longer-term cultural cooperation process in international cultural relations, involving all relevant stakeholders.

— Preserving cultural heritage and empowering local CCS in Ukraine

Working methods: Commission-led expert group or think-tank meetings and peer-learning/training activities; meetings with Permanent Representations.

Rationale: The Russian war against Ukraine has destroyed and damaged Ukrainian cultural heritage and cultural institutions, and placed them under considerable threat of further destruction and damage, as well as making them prey to trafficking. Preservation and protection efforts should therefore be supported. The reconstruction and recovery process should be undertaken by strengthening Ukraine’s capacity and expertise and should be based on national, international and European norms, on standard-setting texts, principles (such as NEB) and lessons learned, and be consistent with the European quality principles for EU-funded interventions with potential impact on cultural heritage (4). Likewise, Ukrainian cultural and creative actors and professionals need support as they continue to face many difficulties in their activities. In the spirit of co-creation, cultural cooperation with Ukraine should therefore be aimed at strengthening the CCS’ resilience, as well as their capacity to uphold a lively culture and arts scene.

Target outputs: Assessing possible joint measures, synergies and best practices for the preservation, protection and reconstruction of Ukrainian cultural heritage and cultural institutions, and for supporting Ukrainian cultural and creative actors.

— The role of culture and cultural professionals in the promotion and defence of democracy and human rights in fragile contexts

Working methods: possible joint meetings with relevant Council Working Parties; joint stocktaking conference/seminar with the European Parliament, the Council of Europe, UNESCO and civil society.

Rationale: The EEAS 2021 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World points to the global context of democratic backsliding and widespread violations of international human rights. This also affects cultural and creative professionals in third countries who engage in the defence of democracy, human rights, freedom of artistic expression, etc. While the EU already promotes respect for cultural rights and diversity in third countries, more focused and systematic support could be explored, keeping in mind the Council of Europe, UNESCO and European Parliament's implications in this field.

Target outputs: Comprehensive overview of situations, needs, etc. of cultural human rights defenders.

(1) Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (https://eit.europa.eu/eit-community/eit-culture-creativity)

(2) General guidelines relating to working methods are set out in Annex B.

(3) https://en.unesco.org/creativity/governance/status-artist.

(4) https://www.icomos.org/en/about-icomos/committees/regional-activities-europe/58799-european-quality-principles-for-eu-funded-interventions-with-potential-impact-upon-cultural-heritage