WRITTEN QUESTION E-0840/02

by Caroline Jackson (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 March 2002)

Subject: Article 151 of the EC Treaty and cultural heritage relations with third countries

According to Article 151(2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, action is possible at EU level with a view to the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance.

A very large number of archaeological sites and ancient monuments, which constitute an important part of Europe's cultural heritage, are situated in countries linked to the EU by association and other agreements.

Does the Commission have a policy with regard to the conservation of important remains such as those of Greek and Roman cities around the Mediterranean?

There have been many examples of important vestiges of the ancient world being destroyed by the extension of modern agriculture and the process of economic development. For example, much of the city of Zeugma founded in 300 BC by a successor of Alexander the Great was recently destroyed when the Birecik dam was constructed on the Euphrates in Turkey. A series of remarkable Roman mosaics was discovered shortly before inundation, but only part of these could be saved.

Does not the Commission consider that the EU has a responsibility to intervene in such cases and to provide resources to assist in salvaging what can be rescued? Do provisions exist in the EU's agreements with its Mediterranean and other close partners which might provide the basis for assistance to public authorities in the form of expertise and finance for surveys of the cultural heritage and for preparing plans for economic and social development which may contribute to its protection? What can the Commission do to promote requests from its partners in this regard?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0837/02, E-0839/02, E-0840/02 and E-0841/02given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(18 June 2002)

Under Article 151 of the EC Treaty, the Community may encourage cooperation between the Member States in the area of culture and, if necessary, support and supplement their action in a number of areas, including the conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance. This aim is pursued by the Culture 2000 framework programme, which promotes cultural cooperation in Europe.

Within this framework, the Commission supports initiatives in the cultural area, including the protection, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage, under the Culture 2000 framework programme and in accordance with its selection criteria, this programme being the Union's single financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation for 2000-2004. The Community does not have the power to take measures to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Member States or of eligible non-Community countries (three countries from the European Economic Area/European Free Trade Association (EEA/EFTA) and the countries of central and eastern Europe, whose association councils have decided to take part in the programme) other than under the existing programmes and initiatives. It is also important to note that, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, protection schemes are the exclusive responsibility of the Member States. The Honourable Member can find additional information on the web site http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/index_en.html.

Subject to joint financial contributions and compliance with the rules specific to each institution or organisation, the Culture 2000 programme can also accommodate joint measures involving international organisations with responsibilities in the cultural sector, such as Unesco and the Council of Europe, for cultural measures and cultural events within the scope of the programme. These joint measures, such as the European Heritage Days, are based on an exchange of letters between the Commission, the Council of Europe and Unesco(1).

As regards the European Science Foundation, Icomos and the other institutions and organisations mentioned by the Honourable Member, the Commission supports cooperation initiatives in the cultural sector including those for the protection, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage under the Culture 2000 programme and in accordance with its selection criteria. In this regard, the Commission would draw the Honourable Member's attention to the fact that a call for proposals for projects to be held in 2003 will be published in the Official Journal of the European Communities during the second quarter of 2002.

The Commission would also point out that, under the Culture 2000 programme, priority will be given to cultural heritage in the call for proposals for 2004. In this context, cultural heritage will comprise moveable heritage, intangible heritage, historical archives and libraries, archaeology, underwater heritage, cultural sites and landscapes.

In the fifth framework programme for research and technological development (1998-2002), support has been provided, under the key action The city of tomorrow and cultural heritage, for research projects which seek to preserve, protect and improve Europe's cultural heritage. Information on the projects supported by the Commission can be found on the web site http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/ka4/library.htm

As regards the links between the European institutions and activities carried out at national level and with international organisations, the draft 6th framework programme (2002-2006) and more particularly the special programme within it entitled Integrating and Strengthening the European Research Area makes provision for supporting cooperation and the coordination of research activities carried out at national and regional levels: participants can thus comprise national entities, such as research bodies in the public and private sectors, and other institutions operating on a European level, like the European Science Foundation.

(1) Cooperation between Unesco and the European Commission is based on an initial exchange of letters in September 1964, supplemented by another exchange in December 1972 and by the signing, in February 1996, of an agreement on the methods of cooperation between the European Commission and UNESCO.