Council Resolution of 23 July 2001 on exchange of information and experience concerning conditions for professional artists in the context of EU enlargement
Date: 2001-07-23
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: artistic profession, cultural cooperation, enlargement of the Union, exchange of information

31.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 213/9

COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 23 July 2001

on exchange of information and experience concerning conditions for professional artists in the
context of EU enlargement

(2001/C 213/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

which stresses the importance of artists to the process of
European integration,

Taking into account:

(1) that Community action aims at encouraging cooperation
in the sphere of culture between the Member States,

(2) that

the Community has to take cultural aspects into
account in its action under other provisions of the Treaty,

(3) the principle of subsidiarity,

(9) the Council conclusions of 17 December 1999 on cultural
in Europe, which invites

industries and employment
Member States to intensify exchange of information,

(10) the Council Resolution of 17 December 1999 on the
promotion of the free movement of persons working in
the cultural sector (4), which states that the free movement
of persons in the cultural sphere enhances cooperation
and collaboration in this
sphere and thereby helps
develop both diversity in the European cultures and a
European consciousness,

(4) that the Community and the Member States have to foster
cooperation in the sphere of culture with third countries,
including candidate countries,

(11) the Helsinki European Council

conclusions of 11
December 1999 on the importance of the enlargement
process launched in Luxembourg in December 1997 for
stability and prosperity for the entire European continent,

(5) the Council Resolution of 4 April 1995 on cooperation
with the associated countries of central and eastern
Europe in the cultural domain (1), which emphasises the
importance of structured ties with associate countries in
the cultural sphere,

1. NOTES the importance of artists’ work for freedom of
expression and the enhancement of cultural diversity in
Europe as well as for the development of international
exchange and cultural linking;

(6) the Council Resolution of 20 November 1995 on the
economic
statistics on culture
promotion of
growth (2), which notes the influence of culture on the
overall development of society and its cohesion, as well
as on cooperation with third countries,

and

2. NOTES the current activities of

the Social Dialogue
Committee for
set up by the
the Performing Arts
Commission in January 1999 at the joint request of the
sectorial social partners;

(7) the first Commission report of 17 April 1996 on the
European

cultural

aspects

in

consideration
of
Community action,

3. RECALLS that the Commission has launched a study on the
mobility and free movement of persons working in the
cultural sector;

(8) the European Parliament resolution of 9 March 1999 on
the situation and role of artists in the European Union (3),

(1) OJ C 247, 23.9.1995, p. 2.
(2) OJ C 327, 7.12.1995, p. 1.
(3) OJ C 175, 21.6.1999, p. 42.

4. NOTES that
professional
cultural sphere;

the overall
artists

is of

issue of
central

the conditions
importance

for
in the

(4) OJ C 8, 12.1.2000, p. 3.

C 213/10

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

31.7.2001

5. NOTES

that

these

conditions are

extent
influenced by a number of other policy areas,
for
example employment, social security, intellectual property
rights, free movement, education and training;

to a great

policies

national

6. NOTES that the exchange of information on good practice
and
for
professional artists developed by many Member States
and candidate countries could be of mutual interest and
deal with the subjects that are most suitable for discussion
at the European level;

concerning

conditions

7. STRESSES

the importance of giving the relevant organi-
sations representing creative and performing artists the
opportunity to present
their views where measures
concerning their conditions are planned;

8. CONSIDERS that,

in the light of enlargement and of the
it would be appropriate
other factors mentioned above,
to encourage exchange of
information and experience
concerning the conditions for professional artists between
the Member States as well as between the Member States
and the candidate countries,
involving relevant parties
based on the question at hand;

9. CONSIDERS the importance of taking into account the work
done by international organisations,
the
Council of Europe and Unesco, as well as by other

in particular

professional bodies and networks in this sphere to avoid
any duplication.

10. INVITES the Commission, having regard to the subsidiarity
principle and within the existing legal and financial
framework, and especially Article 151(4) of the Treaty, to:

(i) encourage exchange of

information and experience
regarding conditions for professional artists between
the Member States as well as between the Member
States and the candidate countries,
for
example, meetings,
the use of new communication
technologies and/or studies,

including,

(ii) ensure, where Community level measures are planned
concerning conditions for professional artists, that the
relevant European organisations representing artists are
given the opportunity to present their views.

11. CALLS ON the Member States to:

(i) cooperate with the Commission in the development
and implementation of the exchange outlined above,

(ii) encourage exchange of

information and experience
concerning the
for professional artists
between the Member States as well as between the
Member States and the candidate countries.

conditions

COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS

of 23 July 2001

on the Commission’s Evaluation Report on the application of the recommendation concerning the
protection of minors and human dignity

(2001/C 213/03)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. WELCOMES the Commission’s Evaluation Report of 27
February 2001 on the application of the Council Recom-
mendation 98/560/EC of 24 September 1998 on the devel-
opment of the competitiveness of the European audio-
visual and information services industry by promoting
national
frameworks aimed at achieving a comparable
and effective level of protection of minors and human
dignity,

2. NOTES the Report’s conclusions, which overall

encouraging results as regards the application of

show
the

Recommendation, but which also emphasise that users,
including consumers, should have been more involved
and that two years may be a relatively short period for
fully applying the recommendation,

3. NOTES that the activities concerning digital broadcasting so
far are fairly modest and that renewed efforts need to be
made to ensure a coherent approach regarding the
protection of minors and human dignity adapted to each
mode of delivery of audiovisual media,
for example
Internet TV and interactive broadcasting,