OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community action programme in the field of cultural heritage Raphaël
Date: 1995-07-06
Institutions: European Economic and Social Committee
Subjects: EU programme, access to information, cultural cooperation, cultural heritage, cultural policy













EUR-Lex - 51995AC0805 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



51995AC0805

OPINION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE on the proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision establishing a Community action programme in the field of cultural heritage Raphaël  


Official Journal C 256 , 02/10/1995 P. 0038 





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 COMMENTS1. 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 COMMENTS1. 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 Chairmanof the Economic and Social CommitteeCarlos 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.