16.12.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC332/67
thenecessarypoliciesshouldbesetinmotionassoon
aspossible.3.6.12.IntheCommittee'sviewtheabove-men­
tionedfactorscallformeasureswhichproducevisible
resultsinthemediumandlongterm.Forthisreason
DoneatBrussels,22October1992.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
SusanneTIEMANN
OpinionontheCommunication fromtheCommission :NewprospectsforCommunity
culturalaction
(92/C332/19)
On7May1992theCouncildecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
underArticle198oftheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity,onthe
Communication fromtheCommission :NewprospectsforCommunityculturalaction.
TheSectionforSocial,Family,EducationalandCulturalAffairs,whichwasresponsiblefor
preparingtheCommittee'sworkonthesubject,adopteditsOpinionon6October1992.
TheRapporteurwasMrBurnel.
Atits300thPlenarySession(meetingof22October1992),theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionbyalargemajoritywith3abstentions .
1.GeneralComments
1.1.TheEconomicandSocialCommitteeendorses
thethinkingunderlyingtheCommissionCommuni­
cationon'NewprospectsforCommunitycultural
action'.
1.1.1.Thisthinkingisneatlysummarizedinthethree
aimstheCommission setsforculturalaction:
—topreserveawarenessofEuropeanhistory;
—togenerateanenvironmentconducivetothedevel­
opmentofcultureinEurope;
—tohelpspreadEuropeanculturalinfluencethrough­
outtheworld.
1.2.TheCommitteenotesthattheParliamenthas
beenactiveinthisareasince1974.Itcongratulatesthe
Parliamentonthisandencouragesittocontinue.1.2.1.TheCommitteeitselfhasissuedseveralOpin­
ionsstressingtheCommunityInstitutions'responsi­
bilityforculturalissuesandputtingforwardproposals
inthisconnection .
1.3.TheCommitteewouldreiterateitsrequest—
evenmoreforcefullytodayinviewoftheambitions
enshrinedintheTreatyofEuropeanUnion—thatthe
aspirationssetoutintheCommunication bebackedup
byfirmpoliticalwill,translatedinpracticaltermsbythe
robustlevelofresourcesneededtomatchthechallenges
involved.Thetangiblenatureofthe'ventures'tobe
encouragedandfostered,isnecessarilyrootedina
philosophyandpolicyforpromotinghumanity,which
isboundupwiththedemocraticandhumanisticvalues
inwhichtheMemberStates,theCommunityandour
societyarerooted.
1.3.1.ForthisreasonthecurrentCommissiondraft
willhavetobegraduallyexpandedandbackedby
financialresourcescommensurate withtheambitions
theCommunityhassetitselfandwithactionswhich
willhavetobecoveredbyotherprogrammes .

NoC332/68 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 16.12.92
1.4.InitspreviousOpinions,theCommittee
describedcultureasacomponentofpersonallifeand
universalvalues.Thus,thereisnoneedtorepeatthese
ideasonwhichthereisalreadyaconsensus.UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(Article27).If
theuniversalrighttocultureistomakeanyheadway
itmustbeunderpinnedbya(ethicalandaesthetic)
philosophyandthepoliticalwilltoprovideadequate
meanstoimplementthesephilosophicalchoices.
1.4.1.Atatimewhen'Europeancitizenship'is
becomingakeyfactorintheEuropeanUnion,the
Committeereiteratesthattheculturaldimensionis
crucialtounderstanding andharmonybetweenpeople,
andtoensuringcohesionbetweennationsandthevari­
ouslevelsandgroupsinsociety.Thisisanhistoric
opportunitywhichwecannotaffordtomiss.1.7.1.Culturehasfortoolongbeentheprerogative
ofanintellectualandsocialelite,althoughitisafunda­
mentalrightandmustbeeffectivelyopenedtoall.This
legalobligationentailsinteraliaaccesstoeducation
andtraining,freedom,self-expression aswellasfair,
sharedaccesstojointmaterialandnon-material
resourcesandheritage.
1.4.2.Infactoverandaboveitsmanydifferentforms
ofexpressionandappearance,culturereflectspeople's
mannerandbehaviourinrelationshipswithothersand
withtheenvironment .Hence,asalreadyunderlinedby
theCommittee,'civilization,cultureandsociety'are
inextricablylinked.
1.5.Thepoliticalapproachtoculturehastobean
all-embracing one.1.8.Sinceitisanexpressionoflife,bothpastand
present,cultureisaffectedbychangesovertime(his­
tory,fashions,etc.),byinter-personal andcollective
relationships (meetings,spontaneousororganized
exchangesofknowledgeandopinions,migration,etc.),
bytechnology (newmaterialsandresources),conser­
vationprocedures,communication systems,etc.Cul­
tureisalitmustestforphilosophyandreligionand
sometimesfordominantpoliticaltrends.Socialstruc­
tures,livingconditions (work,home,resources,time­
tableandpaceoflife)exertanimpactandconstraint
oncapacitytoaccesscertainculturalresources.All
sectorsofsocietymustthereforehavefullaccessto
cultureincluding,forinstance,theeconomicallyand
sociallymostvulnerable,notforgettingthesick,dis­
abledandaged.1.6.Itisconsequentlyrecommendedthat,inpolitical
terms,culturalactionbepartandparcelofallpolitical,
economicandsocialthinkinganddecisions.Thecul­
turaldimensionofissuesshouldbewelltotheforefront
ofallpoliticaldebates,overandabovedebateson
specificallyculturalissues.Forexample,onaudio-vis­
ualissues,thereisaneedforanoverallpolicyembrac­
ingculturalaims,economicaspectsandconstraints,
socialobligationsandtechnology .1.8.1.Therearemanyexamplesofthereciprocal
natureofinter-culturalinfluencesandthecomplemen­
tarynatureofdifferentcultures.Culturesdescribedas
'dead'surviveinundreamtoforpoorlyunderstood
forms,whentheyarenotdeliberatelyignored.1.6.1.Ifatheoreticalandpurelyintellectual
approachisadopted,asatisfactoryconclusioncanonly
beachimeraand—forallconcernedincludingthe
personreachingthatconclusion—therewouldbeno
concretepoliticalimpact.
1.8.2.Therearenominorculturesorcultural
expressionscomparedwithothers,whicharesuppos­
edlymorenoblejustbecausetodaytheyaremore
widespreadoridentifiedwithaspecificsociological
categoryorclassorrace.1.6.2.Cultureisembodiedinourlivesbyawhole
seriesof'symbols'.Thisappliestomonumentsand
literary,musicalandplasticart—exampleswhich
cometomindspontaneously .Inreality,thecultural
dimensionisvast.Itcanbediversified'adinfinitum'
sinceitcoverseverythingwhichpersonifiesmankind,
allowingpeopletoexpresstheirpersonality,forging
civicandmorallinkswithagroup,territory,religion,
philosophyandanerainwhichtheyfeelathomeand
arerecognizedasbeingsuch,andalsobindingthemto
individual,socialandfamilypatternsoflivingand
behavingvis-a-visothers.1.8.3.Allculturesreflectandexpresstheupsand
downsinthehistoryofmankindwiththeirdifferences,
contradictions andcomplementary aspects.
1.9.ThewealthofEuropeanheritageisalegitimate
sourceofpridewhichmustnotbearrogantorchauvin­
istic.Wemustrecognizetheconvictionandtalentof
thosewhocreatedthisheritageandmustproveour1.7.Accessforallmen,womenandchildrentocul­
tureisinseparablefromtheirdignityashumanbeings.
Assuch,cultureisabasichumanrightenshrinedinthe

16.12.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC332/69
ownworthbybeingfaithfultotheirmemory,bypre­
servingitandenrichingit.andtheirobjectives,hadaroletoplayincultural
initiationanddevelopment .Thesameappliestotechni­
calandvocationaleduction.
1.9.1.Somecomponentsofculturalheritagereflect
theuniversaldimensionofhumangenius.Thesemust
berecognized,respectedanddealtwithassuchinlaw
andinpractice.ForthisreasontheEconomicandSocialCommittee
urgestheCouncilofEducationMinisterstoreflecton
waysandmeansofdevelopingtheculturalaspectsof
alllevelsofeducationfromprimaryschoolonwards.
Languageteachingisalsoanoverridingnecessity;ifit
istobesuccessfulaconcertedstudyofmeansand
methodsisrequiredtoensuremaximumeffectiveness .
Schoolsshouldalsoteachchildrentorespectothersin
alltheirdifferences,particularlyculturalonesandto
givedueconsideration toculturalheritageandits
environment .1.10.Culturenecessarilyincludestheconceptof
communication ,dialogueandsharing,becauseitisthe
antithesisofintroversionandofselfishappropriation
ofknowledgeandtalents.Cultureisthesoulofevery
community .
2.CommentsontheCommission Communication
Recognizingtheimportanceofexchangesforyoung
peopleandteachers,theCommitteeurgesthatthesebe
developed.
2.1.TheCommitteehasalwaysstressedtheneedto
respectspecificnational,regionalandlocalcharacter­
istics.ThusitfullyendorsestheCommission rec­
ommendation .Torejectorignoreculturalrealitiescan
onlyleadtoculturaldegeneration ,whileaddingnew,
differentvaluesenrichesacommunity .Culturalalign­
mentonanimposed?dominantuniformmodelwould
goagainstthegrainofculture,sinceitwouldignoreor
rejectfreedomandwouldnotrespectthediversityof
identitiesandtherighttobedifferent.Whiledifferent
culturesintheCommunitygenerallyhavecommon
bases,thisisnotanargumentformergingthemor
ignoringthediversityofcultureswithinEurope.2.3.THECOMMISSION REFERSTOTHENEED
TOBRINGTHECOMMON CULTURAL HERI­
TAGETOTHEFOREBYPROVIDING SUPPORT
FORSPECIFICAREAS:itacknowledgesthatthefinan­
cialresourcesearmarkedforthisaremodestinrelation
toa)thedimensionoftheproblemstobedealtwith
andb)theurgencyofcertainmeasures.
Culturalheritageisaffectedbytimeandthisoften
workstoitsdetriment.Man'sexcessesandsometimes
hisstupiditycompoundtheravagesoftheyearsand
thedamagecausedbyallformsofpollution;hencethe
importanceofeducationandinformation . 2.2.TheCommitteebroadlyendorsestheCom­
missionproposalsonTHEFLOWERING OFCUL­
TUREINTHEEUROPEWITHOUT FRONTIERS .
However,someoftheseproposalsneedtobefleshed
out.2.3.1.Thechoiceofactionprogrammesandthe
stringencywithwhichtheyareimplementedareallthe
moreimportantsincefinancialresourcesarelimited,
andthereisoftenconsiderableurgency.
2.2.1.TheCommitteeviewswithinteresttheCom­
mission'swishtomovetowardsglobalpoliciesincorpo­
ratingtheculturaldimension .Thisstanceisfundamen­
talandshouldbeencouraged .2.3.1.1.TheCommissionstatesthatCommunityaid
willbechannelledsoastoprovideincentivesforMem­
berStatestoparticipate.TheCommitteerecommends
thatculturaltreasureslocatedwherelocalfinancial
resourcesarescarceshouldreceivespecialattention.
2.3.1.2.Inadditiontowell-knownworksofart,less
prestigiousformsofcultureshouldnotbeneglectedfor
theyalsobearwitnesstomankind'scivilizationand
talent.2.2.1.1.Tobeeffective,thisrealisticapproachentails
ontheonehandinstillingacultural,politicalreflexin
alldecision-makers ,andontheother,movestofacili­
tateconstructiverelationsbetweeneveryoneinvolved
inculturalissues,despitetheindividualism ,ignorance
anddiscouragingclimateofcompetitionwhichprevail
insomequarters.
2.2.2.Foralongtimeeductionwasdominatedby
theclassics,LatinandGreek.Curriculawerelargely
gearedtotheliterarydisciplines.Gradually,itwas
realizedthatscientificdisciplines,bothintermsofa)
thelogiconwhichtheywerebasedandb)theircontent2.3.2.LiketheCommission ,theCommitteehasoft­
enstressedtheimportanceoftranslation;ittherefore
endorsestherelevantproposalsintheCommunication .
ItwouldaddtheneedtourgeMemberStatestoencour­
agethestudyoflanguagesandthehistoryofnations,

NoC332/70 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities 16.12.92
peoplesandtraditions.Withoutconstantprogressin
theseareas,relationsbetweenpeopleswillcomeup
againstmanydifficultiesalongtheway,alongwitha
lackofunderstanding andotherobstacles.Tosupplementtheabovecomments,theCommittee
wouldaddthefollowing:
1.Itrecommendsstronglythat,inkeepingwithits
overallassessmentofculturalproblemsandhow
theyarehandled,theCommissionshouldtakestock
ofthoseactionswhichhavebeencarriedoutand
thosecurrentlyunderway,indicatingtheoutlay
involved.Communityculturalactiongoesbeyond
specificindividualactions.Europeanpolicymakers
shouldbeawareofactualcircumstances .2.3.2.1.Lesser-usedlanguagesshouldnotbeneg­
lected.
2.3.3.TheCommitteehascarriedoutsignificant
workonaudiovisualmatters,particularlytelevision;
onepointtostressistheneedforaudiovisualpro­
fessionstopooltheirskillsandresources,especially
sincecostsareheavyandinternationalcompetitionis
stiff.Thisassessmentwillmakeiteasiertoevaluateprevious
measuresandassesswhatremainstobedoneandwhat
policiesaretobefollowed.
2.Inadditiontoprotectionformonumentsandbuild­
ingsperse,attentionshouldalsobedrawntotheir
immediateenvironment .Somestructures,urban
buildingsandbillboardsmaybeunsightlyandcan
causeseriousaestheticdamage.Hencetheimport­
anceofensuringthatboththecompetentauthorities
andthepublicareeducatedandinformedproperly
inordertoavoidtheimpositionofrestrictiverules
andregulations .2.3.3.1.Istherenotarisk—inbothproductionand
sometechnologicalareasofbroadcastingandreception
—thatcompetitorswillsqueezeouthome-grownpro­
ductions,tothedetrimentofourdomesticcultures?In
viewofitsimpactonthepublic,inparticularchildren
andyoungpeople,andbecauseofitssimplifyingand
promotionalfunctions,televisioncanconsiderably
influenceourbehaviourandjudgementbyprogressively
dullingourpowersofjudgement .Readingrequiresan
effort;televisioninthehomeisabsorbedwithoutany
reciprocaleffort.Thisdoesnotmeanthattelevision
shouldberejected—thatwouldbeabsurd—our
commentsareintendedtoencouragebothaudiovisual
professionalsandthepublicsincetelevisionisavery
powerfulchannelforinformation ,discoveryandenter­
tainmentand,assuch,apowerfulculturalagentin
general.3.Intelevision,stepsshouldbetakenforthwithto
encouragetheestablishmentofoneorseveralEuro­
peanculturalchannels.Thesemustbeculturalvec­
torsandpowerfulinstrumentsdedicatedtoedu­
cationpurposesandthepromotionofknowledge
andunderstanding ofotherpeoples.Toachievethis,
programmesmustbecarefullystudiedandeschew
anyfalseelitistintellectualism .
2.3.3.2.Theroleofradioshouldnotbeforgotten.
Itreachesawideaudience,isabletoreactquicklyto
eventsandishighlydiversified .4.Europeanculturalpatronageoughttobeencour­
aged.Aneffortshouldbemade,forinstance,to
aligntaxationwithregardtosponsorship .
2.4.THECOMMITTEE ENDORSES THEPRO­
POSALTOINCREASE COOPERATION WITH
NON-MEMBER COUNTRIES ANDINTER­
NATIONALORGANIZATIONS ,INPARTICULAR ,
THECOUNCILOFEUROPE .5.ESCmembers,personifythewishesandinterestsof
citizensintheircapacityasrepresentatives ofsocio­
economicinterestgroups,consumers,usersandpar­
ents'associations .IntheirownMemberStates,they
willurgegovernmentsandallthoseinvolvedin
culturalactivitytoincorporatetheEuropeancul­
turaldimensionintoeverydaythinkingandprac­
tices.2.4.1.Becauseculturalidentitiesareoftenpowerful
andextremelyvaluable,inter-cultural cooperation
shouldbefosteredactively.Allcultures,aboveand
beyondtheirownroots,aretheculminationofamyriad
ofconfrontations andexchanges .6.Educationplaysamajorroleindevelopingcultural
creativity,overandabovetheproductionofmajor
worksofart.Everyonehasaparttoplayinpreserv­
ingourculturalheritage,sincecultureispartoflife.
TheESCurgesthatactionbecarriedoutinschoolsto
encourageculturaldiscoveryamongstchildren,toboost
respectforandsensibleuseofculturalheritage,and
encouragesensibleattitudestowardsusingresources.
Forexample,theusesandabusesoftelevisionshould2.4.2.ThecontributionmadebytheCouncilofEur­
opeisclearlyimportant.TheCommitteesharesthe
Commission'sviewonthecomplementary ,non-com­
petitiveroleoftheCommunityinstitutions,otherinter­
nationalorganizationsandUNESCO.Theessential
objectiveistoshareeffortoutinlinewithresponsibility .

16.12.92 OfficialJournaloftheEuropeanCommunities NoC332/71
bepartofschoolcurricula,onthesamefootingas
readingandwriting.
7.Manyminorityethnicgroupsandtheirfamiliesare
citizensofourMemberStates.Wewillbeabletounderstandthembetterifwelearnabouttheirhis­
toryandculture,andappreciatetheelementsthey
haveincommonwithoursandsoencouragedia­
logue,exchangeandmutualenrichment .
DoneatBrussels,22October1992.
TheChairman
oftheEconomicandSocialCommittee
SusanneTIEMANN
OpinionontheproposalforaCouncilDirectiveamendingDirective71/305/EECconcerning
theco-ordinationofproceduresfortheawardofpublicworkscontracts(*)
(92/C332/20)
On19August1992,theCouncildecidedtoconsulttheEconomicandSocialCommittee,
underArticle100aoftheTreatyestablishingtheEuropeanEconomicCommunity ,onthe
abovementioned proposal.
TheSectionforIndustry,Commerce,CraftsandServiceswasresponsibleforpreparingthe
Committee'sworkonthesubject.TheEconomicandSocialCommitteedecidedtoappoint
MrKaaristoactasRapporteur-General .
Atits300thPlenarySession(meetingof22October1992),theEconomicandSocialCommittee
adoptedthefollowingOpinionunanimously .
1.Introduction
1.1.ACommonPositionwasadoptedbytheCouncil
on18June1992onaconsolidatedtextoftheCouncil
Directiveconcerningtheco-ordination ofprocedures
fortheawardofpublicworkscontracts.
1.2.TheCommonPosition,whichhasnotyetresult­
edinthefinaladoptionofaconsolidatedtext,reflects
thewishexpressedbytheCommitteeinitsOpinion
CES357/92(2)thatthelistofbodiesgovernedbypublic
lawandsubjecttotheDirectiveshouldbesubjecttoconstantrevisiontoensurethatitpermanentlyreflects
thesituationinMemberStates.
1.3.Article35oftheCommonPositionspecifiesthat
amendmentstothislist—AnnexI—,shallbemade
bytheCommissionafterconsultingtheAdvisoryCom­
mitteeforPublicContracts,andcanthusbeundertaken
withoutrecoursetoformalCouncildecision.
2.GeneralComments
WiththepresentProposaltheCommissionseeksto
extendthesameproceduretoamendmentsofAnnexII
toincorporatefurtherchangesinthenomenclatureused
toclassifyworkscoveredbytheDirective.(»)OJNoC225,1.9.1992,p.11.
(2)OJNoC106,27.4.1992,p.11.