Council Resolution of 24 November 2003 on cooperation between cultural institutions in the field of museums
Date: 2003-11-24
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: administrative cooperation, cultural cooperation, cultural object, heritage protection, museum

5.12.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 295/1

I

(Information)

COUNCIL

COUNCIL RESOLUTION

of 24 November 2003

on cooperation between cultural institutions in the field of museums

(2003/C 295/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

1. REFERRING to the Treaty

establishing

the European

Community;

2. BEARING IN MIND the Council Resolution of 25 June 2002
on a new work plan on European cooperation in the field
of culture (1), which includes among other priorities

(a) circulation of works and persons in the cultural sector;

(b) integration and participation of new Member States in

the cultural field;

(c) enhancing synergies with other Community areas and
areas of
activities,
education and training, youth, research and information
and communication technology;

including for

example

in the

(d) improving the dissemination of information in order to
facilitate access of citizens to cultural action of
the
Community;

(e) cooperation in the different fields of cultural adminis-
including management and administration of

tration,
cultural goods;

3. RECALLING the Regulation on export of cultural goods and
the Directive on the return of cultural objects unlawfully
removed from the territory of a Member State, as well as
the Council Resolution concerning the Commission's report
on the application of these (2);

4. RECALLING ALSO the Council Resolution of 21 January
2002 on culture and the knowledge society that called,
among other things, for digitisation of cultural content;

in order

the cultural

5. AIMING to intensify further

links between
Member States
to promote knowledge of
common cultural heritage and cultural diversity within
Europe; and to reflect how to take account of these cross-
cutting issues,
the
programme to succeed Culture 2000;

in consideration of

if necessary,

(1) OJ 162, 6.7.2002.
(2) OJ L 395, 31.12.1992, OJ L 74, 27.3.1993, OJ L 201, 17.7.1998,

OJ L 187, 10.7.2001 and OJ C 32, 5.2.2002.

6. BEARING IN MIND that ‘cultural institutions’ in the context of
this Resolution comprise a large number of different bodies.
institutions may include, among others,
These cultural
museums,
research,
competent
training and restoration institutes as well as university
departments;

authorities,

galleries,

7. BEARING FURTHER IN MIND that police and customs auth-
orities are important actors in combating illicit trafficking of
cultural goods,

STRESSES THE NEED FOR IMPROVED COOPERATION AMONG
MEMBER STATES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS, WHILE TAKING
INTO ACCOUNT EACH MEMBER STATE'S LEGISLATION:

A. Cooperation in the field of research and further

training in the sector of cultural heritage

1. Exchange of experience in the field of training with the
aim of increasing research and cooperation between staff
of cultural institutions.

Consideration will be given to the possibility whereby
staff working for such cultural institutions can be hosted
by the Member States for a period of a few weeks
and training seminars can be organised on scientific,
administrative,
exhibition-preparation and museum-
management matters.

2. Standards and good practice applied in various countries

in the following sectors:

— protection of heritage;

— conservation and restoration of collections and

cultural heritage sites;

— documentation,

inventory

and

digitisation

of

collections and cultural heritage sites;

— display techniques, methods and interpretation;

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Official Journal of the European Union

5.12.2003

— learning in museums;

— criteria for exhibitions (for example, policy on loans,

conditions for circulation);

— management and administration of museums;

— development policies.

B. Cooperation in the

restoration
monuments

and

field of
reproduction

conservation and
and
artefacts
of

finds, paintings,

1. Conservation and restoration of artefacts

(including
sculptures, etc.) and
archaeological
monuments by joint teams from the Member States,
with publication of results making good use of
the
know-how and technical equipment of each participant
and comparing conservation and restoration criteria and
methods.

2. Reproduction and digitisation of artefacts for study and

teaching purposes.

3. Research of archaeological sites by joint teams from the
Member States. Comparative study both on the criteria
used for such development and on the relationship
between the ‘archaeological
stock’ and the natural
environment.

4. Comparative research from different countries on the
balancing of
infrastructural development with the
protection of archaeological and architectural heritage.

C. Cooperation in combating illicit trafficking of cultural

goods

1. Protection and recovering of cultural goods,

including
archaeological assets that have no documentation as to
origin.

2. Stepping up joint activity to prevent illicit trafficking in

cultural goods.

3. Establishing or reinforcing cooperation among Member
State administrative structures in this field, and also
between
administrative
institutions
structures.

cultural

and

D. Cooperation in relation to exhibitions

1. Organisation of exhibitions. Particular encouragement
could be given to exhibitions that are organised by
joint groups of scholars and experts from the Member
institutions and dealing with issues concerning
States'
the contacts,
influences and relationships between the
peoples of Europe over the course of history.

Encouragement could be given to exhibitions that are of
notable significance in terms of new knowledge and
acquisitions and fulfil the relevant protection criteria.

2. Circulation of artefacts, art works and collections. The
cultural institutions and museums of the Member States
could promote the circulation for exhibition purposes of
collections and of individual works of art within the
European area, thereby bringing the common cultural
heritage to the fore.

3. Comparison of Member State legislation and practices
on organising international exhibitions and transporting
artefacts and collections,
in particular with regard to
public guarantees relating to insurance costs as well as
provisions for third party claims on lent works.

CALLS ON THE MEMBER STATES TO FOSTER INTENSIFIED
CULTURAL COOPERATION WHICH OFFERS:

1. To scholars the possibility of pursuing further the study of
the documentation concerning the many facets of works of
art, artefacts and monuments, especially digitised and
photographic documentation.

2. To staff of the institutions and museums of the Member
States — through adequate training programmes and
seminars — the possibility of
investigating matters of
critical
common interest
comparison between the various criteria and methods that
have been adopted and/or trialled in the various countries
and at the same time helping to establish cooperation in the
particular sector.

in more depth, making a

3. To facilitate access,

including virtual access,

to cultural
heritage in order to provide better information and deeper
knowledge of cultural heritage and to increase public
awareness concerning illegal activities in connection with
cultural goods.

Particular care will be taken to ensure that the system of
presentation and the facilities for museums, sites, etc. are
multi-layered, so as to accommodate the various types of
including those with disabilities, while ensuring the
user,
reliability and verification of
information at every level,
even the most elementary.

ALSO CALLS ON THE MEMBER STATES AND THE COMMISSION

To promote, as appropriate, cooperation among Member
States' cultural and museum institutions,
including through
in order to develop practical follow-up to
working groups,
this Resolution with pilot projects to be implemented by the
Member States.

AND AGREES to review the implementation of this Resolution
in the course of the first half of 2005.