Council Conclusions of 18 December 1997 on Music in Europe
Date: 1997-12-18
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: art education, artistic creation, cultural policy, music

C  1/6

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

3.  1.  98

COUNCIL  CONCLUSIONS

of  18  December  1997

on  Music  in  Europe

(98/C  1/04)

THE  COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Council  resolution  of  16  September
1996  on 
into
Communty  actions,

integration  of  cultural  aspects 

the 

Having  regard  to  the  final  document  from  the  "Music  for
in  Ennis
Europe,  Europe  for  Music’  meeting  held 
the
(Ireland)  on  18  and  19  October  1996  and 
proceedings  which  followed  therefrom,

Having  regard  to  the  Council  Decision  of  30  June  1997
regarding  the  future  of  European  cultural  action,  inviting
the  Commission  to  table  proposals  for  the  establishment
of  a  single  instrument  for  programming  and  financing,

(1)(cid:217)Considering  that  music  is  a  fundamental  part  of  the
cultures  and  history  of  our  countries  and  constitutes
one  of  the  most  important  and  omnipresent  modes
of  individual  and  collective  artistic  expression  in  our
everyday  lives;

(2)(cid:217)recalling 

the 

the  European
infinite  richness  of 
musical  heritage  and  the  richness  of  contemporary
new  works  distinguished  by  their  diversity,  vitality
and  constant  ability  to  go  on  developing  and  regne(cid:220)
rating  themselves  perpetually  on  contact  with  other
cultures;

(3)(cid:217)aware  that  the  musical  creation  process  is  based  on  a
cycle  which  ranges  from  composition  to  dissemi(cid:220)
nation  of  the  work  to  the  public  and  that  music,  as  a
means  of  artistic  and  cultural  expression,  cannot  be
separated  from  its  eminently  social  role  nor  from  the
importance  of  the  economic  sector  it  reflects,  which
in  Europe  covers  an 
talents,
know(cid:220)how  and  professions  and  thus  constitutes  a
source  of  employment  to  be  taken  into  account,  in
particular  in  the  case  of  young  people;

infinite  range  of 

(5)(cid:217)aware  that  better  access  to  repertoires  will  make  it
possible  to  develop,  among  the  younger  generation,
an  interest  in  and  taste  for  music,  and  to  promote
the  dissemination  of  different  musical  cultures;

the  Member  States 

(6)(cid:217)valuing  the  action  already  undertaken  by  the  Council
of  Europe  in  the  music  field  and  recalling  that  the
Community  and 
foster  co(cid:220)
operation  with  that  organization  and  with  other
relevant  international  organizations  in  the  sphere  of
culture  in  accordance  with  Article  128  (3)  of  the
Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  by
ensuring  that  the  instruments  adopted  are  comple(cid:220)
mentary,  with  due  regard  for  the  individual  identity
and  autonomy  of  each  institution  and  organization;

activities 

cooperation 

(7)(cid:217)recalling  that,  since  the  programme  of  support  for
cultural 
the  Union,
Kaleidoscope,  expires  in  1998,  it  is  important  to
prepare  means  of  cooperation  to  be  developed  in  the
future  and,  without  prejudice  to  the  positions  which
may  be  adopted,  to  consider  in  detail  the  needs  and
topics  of  priority 
in  the  various  sectors
interest 
covered  by  the  programme,

in 

WELCOMES  the  study  "Music  in  Europe’  produced  by
the  European  Music  Office,  offering  for  the  first  time  a
comprehensive  approach  at  European  level  to  all  the
sectors  involved  in  the  music  creation  cycle;

EXPRESSES  its  determination  to  promote  the  European
music  sector,  in  particular  by  encouraging  the  emergence
of  an  environment  conducive 
the  circulation,
exchange  and  dissemination  of  repertoires,  performances
and  artists  in  Europe  and  in  the  world;

to 

(4)(cid:217)aware  that  it  is  important  to  ensure  that  the  public
can  have  access,  throughout  the  territory  of  the
Member  States, 
to  musical
performances,  in  all  their  diversity  and  richness,  and
that  European  music  in  the  world  is  highlighted;

to  repertoires  and 

AGREES  on  the  need  to  consider  in  more  detail,  in  the
context  of  Article  128  of  the  Treaty  establishing  the
European  Community  and  in  compliance  with  the  subsi(cid:220)
diarity  principle,  the  work  done  in  the  Union  together
with  the  relevant  authorities  of  the  Member  States  and
with  professionals,  to  deepen  knowledge  of  the  needs  of
the  European  music  sector  in  all  its  facets,

3.  1.  98

EN

Official  Journal  of  the  European  Communities

C  1/7

INVITES  the  Commission:

it, 

to  submit  to 
in  the  framework  of  the  Council
Decision  of  22  September  1997  regarding  the  future  of
European  cultural  action,  proposals  for  the  music  sector
designed  to  supplement  the  action  of  Member  States  by
measures  in  particular  in  the  following  fields:

-(cid:217)improved  access  to  music  for  a  wider  public,  with
particular  attention  being  given  to  musical  education
from  a  very  young  age,  by  supporting  innovative  and
exemplary  projects  highlighting  the  essential, 
inte(cid:220)
grating  role  of  music  in  society,

-(cid:217)disseminating  and 

composing  music,  promoting
exchanges, 
and
performing  artists,  and  supporting  the  circulation  of

especially  of 

creative 

young 

repertoires,  performers  and  musical  productions  (live
performances),

-(cid:217)enhanced 

for 

skills 

artists 

and  other  music
professionals,  especially  in  the  framework  of  the  new
possibilities  afforded  to  musical  creation  by  the  new
information  technologies,  and  vocational  guidance  in
the  music  sector,

-(cid:217)the  possibility,  within  the  existing  structures  and
within  the  limits  of  available  financial  resources,  of
improving  the  mutual  information  of  the  Member
States  on  musical  knowledge  through,  for  example,  a
strengthening  of  existing  networks,  or  by  creating  a
monitoring  centre  or  a  European  information  and
documentation  centre.