Opinion on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community action programme in the field of cultural heritage Raphaël

(95/C 256/11)

On 29 May 1995, the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, acting under Article 198 of the EC Treaty, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Economic and Social Committee decided to appoint Mr Burnel as Rapporteur-General (Rules 20 and 50 of the Rules of Procedure).

The Committee adopted the following Opinion at its 327th Plenary Session of 5 and 6 July 1995 (meeting of 6 July) by a majority with one abstention.

I. GENERAL COMMENTS

1. By virtue of the type of institution it is, the Economic and Social Committee is fully qualified to tackle the issue of culture, since it is concerned about matters relating to society, interpersonal relations and the quality of life of the individual, the family and the community at large. It has produced a considerable amount of work demonstrating both its competence in this field and its concern.

Culture is one of the key aspects of citizenship (). It helps to determine the nature of every person and social group, and their relations with others.

Access to culture - and by the same token access to cultural resources and cultural heritage - is one of the rights enshrined in Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (). The diversity of approaches to culture and cultural realities must therefore be recognized and accepted as part of the richness of human life. This truth is applicable to the planet as a whole, the European Union and each of its Member States, although culture is influenced by a variety of factors ().

Culture therefore finds expression in many different ways and through a variety of channels. Culture is indeed a manifold phenomenon incorporating a wealth of complementarity, in which freedom and respect for others are the predominant features.

Culture comprises a wide range of facets and expressions. The Committee therefore urges that the concept of 'cultural heritage' be interpreted in a broad and diversified way. In this connection we would draw attention to the definition adopted by UNESCO:

'For present purposes, culture may be defined as the combined spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional characteristics of a society or social group. In addition to literature and the arts it encompasses lifestyle, fundamental human rights, values, traditions and beliefs.'

It should also be pointed out that cultural activities sometimes require very substantial financial resources, the use of a wide range of professional skills; furthermore, they frequently involve enthusiastic activity within associations, cooperatives and trade unions which broadens the imagination and boosts solidarity between individuals and social groups.

2. The Committee therefore welcomes the Council's request for an Opinion. It is, however, a matter of regret that the deadline set under the second paragraph of Article 198 of the Treaty obliges the Committee to give its views within a very short time, even though it is able to draw upon its earlier work and opinions on this subject.

3. In its earlier Opinions on culture and, in particular, in the Opinion which it adopted on 22 October 1992 on the Communication from the Commission entitled 'new prospects for Community cultural action', the Committee put forward a number of observations which are as valid as ever:

3.1. The intentions which are expressed must be backed up by firm political resolution which is expressed with a vigour commensurate with the challenges which have to be met: these challenges have repercussions for cohesion, solidarity and understanding between peoples, social groups and individuals.

3.2. Projects must be provided with funding set at a level commensurate with the declared ambitions.

3.3. With the advent of European citizenship, the cultural dimension is crucial to mutual comprehension and harmony between people, cohesion between population groups and social categories, thereby constituting a vital bulwark against social exclusion, xenophobia and racism.

3.4. The political attitude to cultural activity must therefore be a matter of permanent concern to be catered for in all political, economic and social deliberations and decisions.

4. In this context and in the light of the abovementioned fundamental observations, the Committee approves the general tenor of the Raphaël programme.

5. In the light of its expertise in this field, drawn from its membership and its institutional role, the Committee highlights the potential contribution - both direct and indirect - which action to preserve our cultural heritage, can make to efforts to promote training and create jobs.

6. With a view to enhancing the programme's contribution to the affirmation of a European citizenship, the Committee urges that European citizens be briefed objectively and specifically on the EU's commitment to the conservation of the cultural heritage.

II. SPECIFIC COMMENTS

1. Articles 2 and 3 of the draft Decision set out the specific aims of the Raphaël programme and the planned action respectively.

The five specific objectives of the Raphaël programme are as follows: the development and promotion of cultural heritage, cooperation and the pooling of knowledge; improvement of access to heritage and the supply of heritage information to the public; the stepping-up of research and common practices; and cooperation with non-Member countries and competent international organizations.

The proposed five types of action are as follows: development and promotion of cultural heritage; networks and partnerships; access to heritage; innovation, further training and professional mobility; cooperation with third countries and international organizations.

2. These objectives and actions, coupled with the criteria set out in Article 4, represent a starting point which will have to be adjusted, flexibly and swiftly, in the light of the experience gained and any needs which emerge when the programme is being implemented. With this aim in view, the participation of all the parties involved will be of decisive importance, if only from the point of view of ensuring effectiveness.

3. The proposed cooperation with non-member countries and competent international organizations, in particular UNESCO and the Council of Europe, is a key plank of the proposed broad complementarity; it is crucial to ensure that the tasks to be achieved are properly allocated on the basis of qualifications.

4. Bearing in mind, on the one hand, the inadequacy of the proposed funding in the light of the issues at stake and the requirements (ECU 67 million spread over five years), and, on the other hand, the fact that EU action is designed to play a complementary role and to act as a catalyst for action by the Member States, the Committee calls for very special attention to be paid to aspects of our heritage located in areas with the lowest local sources of funding. Such action would demonstrate real solidarity and would acknowledge that cultural heritage has a universal value. Culture represents one of the building blocks of solidarity between human beings.

5. The Committee particularly endorses the Commission's concern to ensure that the proposed programme is both consistent with and complementary to other EU actions of relevance to cultural heritage, in particular those referred to in the Council's conclusions of 17 June 1994 on drawing up a Community action plan in the field of cultural heritage ().

6. The Council has consulted the ESC on the Raphaël programme; logically, and bearing in mind the Committee's role and the complementary nature of its membership and experience, the evaluation report provided for in Article 8 should be submitted to the Committee.

Done at Brussels, 6 July 1995.

The Chairman

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER

() Cf. the Committee's work on the Citizens' Europe and the Conferences which it has held on this subject.

() 'Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.'

() Cf. the Committee's Opinion of 22 October 1992 on the Communication from the Commission: new prospects for Community cultural action (OJ No C 332, 16. 12. 1992).

() OJ No C 235, 23. 8. 1994, p. 1.