WRITTEN QUESTION E-2103/97 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (19 June 1997)

Subject: Cultural heritage project in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership

In its communication to the Council and the European Parliament, Progress report on the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and preparations for the Second Conference of Foreign Affairs Ministers in Malta on 15 and 16 April 1997 (COM(97) 68 final), in the section of the report dealing with the measures taken under the third pillar of the Barcelona Declaration (social, cultural and human partnership), the Commission highlights the fact that an agreement has been adopted on an initial list of 17 projects in the field of cultural heritage, on the basis of the principles established at the ministerial meeting on the subject held in Bologna in April 1996.

Will the Commission say whtat these programmes are, what the objective of each programme is, what institutions or bodies they involve and how much has been allocated to each programme?

Will it also give details of the principles established at the ministerial meeting in Bologna and which served as the basis for agreement on the initial list of programmes?

Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (29 July 1997)

Cultural heritage was the subject of the first ministerial conference under the Euro-Mediterranean partnership since the Barcelona Conference. The 27 ministers of culture of the Community and its Mediterranean partners gathered in Bologna on 21 and 22 April last year to discuss the enhancement of Euro-Mediterranean cultural heritage.

The ministers approved a declaration setting out a number of priority areas for cooperation. These included knowledge of cultural heritage through the dissemination of information and campaigns to heighten awareness among the general public and decision-makers; an inventory of heritage, know-how and techniques; heritage policy building on exchange of experience, support and institutional strengthening; training in professions involved in heritage and cultural activities; and the enhancement of heritage through inventories and networks of historic sites used as places of scenic interest and through the promotion of tourism.

The Bologna declaration called on the Commission to set up a mechanism for following up the conference and to put in hand projects for enhancing cultural heritage. Accordingly, a first meeting of representatives of the 27 culture ministers and representatives of the relevant international organizations took place on 9 and 10 September last year to identify and propose regional projects bringing together as many Euro-Mediterranean partners as possible. Some 100 proposals were put forward and their practical details and objectives were discussed.

A further meeting of experts on 20 and 21 December discussed matters in greater detail. The work of evaluating and finalising requests for funds is now in progress with the aim of financing, from the Meda programme, a series of projects some of which will take place over three years. The projects are being forwarded to the Med Committee, the programme's management committee. The Commission will supply details of the project as soon as the financing decision has been taken. The aim is to start practical cooperation this year.