Council Resolution of 21 January 2002 on the role of culture in the development of the European Union
Date: 2002-01-21
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: European Union, European integration, cultural cooperation, cultural pluralism, cultural relations, youth exchange scheme

C 32/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

5.2.2002

COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 21 January 2002

on the role of culture in the development of the European Union

(2002/C 32/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. WHEREAS the Community contributes to the flowering of
the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their
national and regional diversity and at
the same time
bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore, and
cultural diversity
whereas
underpins and sustains the Europe of culture in accordance
with the principle of subsidiarity.

imperative

respect

this

for

2. RECALLING the need for cultural aspects to be taken into
account by the Community in its action under other
provisions of
for example in the areas of
competition policy, the internal market and the common
commercial policy.

the Treaty,

3. CONSIDERING that it is essential to encourage cooperation
and cultural exchanges in order to respect and promote the
diversity of cultures
in Europe and to improve their
knowledge of one another.

4. WHEREAS culture should contribute towards improving the
the Community by emphasising its
its

external visibility of
cultural diversity and the common dimensions of
cultures.

5. WHEREAS the enlargement of the Union will bring greater

richness and cultural diversity.

6. WHEREAS the common dimensions and mutual knowledge
in a society based on freedom,
of cultures in Europe,
democracy,
are
for
and
essential components of citizens’ support for, and partici-
pation in, European integration.

solidarity

diversity,

respect

7. WHEREAS, with this in mind in particular, culture constitutes
a very important factor in the development and consoli-
dation of the process of integration of the Community.

8. WHEREAS cultural development, above and beyond the
prospects for individual and collective fulfilment
it
can create, also generates employment and economic
wealth,
thus producing added value and making for
growth and prosperity,

that

IN THE LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, HEREBY:

A.

INVITES the Member States and the Commission, guided as
they are by respect for cultural diversity, the principle of
subsidiarity and the willingness to place culture at the heart
of European integration to:

(cid:151) develop cultural cooperation, European artistic creativity

and cultural exchanges,

(cid:151) cooperate in order to enable the Commission to update
the assessment of the implementation of Article 151(4)
of the Treaty and to report back to the Council;

B. CONSIDERS it important to start work, particularly on the
basis of that assessment, on improving the implementation
of Article 151(2) and (4) of the Treaty, and INVITES future
Presidencies to draw up a work programme and a timetable
for that purpose;

C. CALLS ON Member States and the Commission to take these
considerations into account and to regard culture as an
essential component of European integration, particularly
from the point of view of the enlargement of the Union.