European Parliament resolution on the protection of the European natural, architectural and cultural heritage in rural and island regions (2006/2050(INI))
Date: 2006-09-07
Institutions: Committee on Culture and Education, European Parliament
Subjects: architectural heritage, cultural heritage, environmental protection, heritage protection, island region, rural region

C 305 E/254

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.12.2006

Thursday 7 September 2006

4.
Proposes that a dialogue in which parliamentary representatives would take part be launched before
the end of 2006 between the EU, the US, Canada and Australia with a view to preparing jointly the 2007
review and establishing a global standard for the transmission of PNR, if that is deemed necessary;

5.
Strongly recommends that Parliament organise a joint session in this respect with the US Congress,
being the democratically representative institutions of the citizens concerned, so as to start a dialogue on
the fight against terrorism and its consequences for civil liberties and human rights;

*

*

*

Instructs its President

6.
Commission.

to forward this resolution to the Council and,

for information,

to the

P6_TA(2006)0355

European natural, architectural and cultural heritage in rural and island regions

European Parliament resolution on the protection of the European natural, architectural and
cultural heritage in rural and island regions (2006/2050(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to Article 151 of the EC Treaty,

— having regard to the Unesco Convention of 16 November 1972 concerning the Protection of the World

Cultural and Natural Heritage,

— having regard to the Council of Europe Convention of 3 October 1985 for the Protection of the Archi-

tectural Heritage of Europe (Granada),

— having regard to the Council of Europe Convention of 16 January 1992 on the Protection of the

Archaeological Heritage (Valetta),

— having regard to the European Landscape Convention of 20 October 2000 adopted by the Council of

Europe (Florence),

— having regard to the Council of Europe Framework Convention of 27 October 2005 on the Value of

the Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro),

— having regard to its resolutions of 13 May 1974 on the protection of the European cultural heritage (1),
14 September 1982 on the protection of the European architectural and archaeological heritage (2),
28 October 1988 on the conservation of the Community's architectural and archaeological heritage (3),
12 February 1993 on preserving the architectural heritage and protecting cultural assets (4) and 16 Jan-
uary 2001 on the application of the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage in the Member States of the European Union (5),

— having regard to Decision 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 February

2000 establishing the Culture 2000 programme (6),

(1) OJ C 62, 30.5.1974, p. 5.
(2) OJ C 267, 11.10.1982, p. 25.
(3) OJ C 309, 5.12.1988, p. 423.
(4) OJ C 72, 15.3.1993, p. 160.
(5) OJ C 262, 18.9.2001, p. 48.
(6) OJ L 63, 10.3.2000, p. 1.

14.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 305 E/255

— having regard to the European Parliament's position of 25 October 2005 at first reading with a view to
the adoption of Decision No …/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing
the Culture 2007 programme (2007-2013) (1),

Thursday 7 September 2006

— having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education (A6-0260/2006),

A. whereas the cultural heritage is a major element of the identity and historical development of the

peoples of Europe,

B. whereas ‘cultural heritage’ encompasses both tangible and intangible elements, which are constantly

enriched by the cultural and creative contributions of each successive generation,

C. whereas the cultural heritage includes both the architectural heritage and the natural heritage marked by

man's way of living in time and place,

D. whereas the European Union is dedicated to the task of promoting and conserving cultural diversity

and quality of life and protecting the environment,

E. whereas conservation of the numerous elements of cultural heritage provides a foundation for further
social and economic development and thereby enhances environmental protection, employment oppor-
tunities and European integration,

F. whereas the cultural heritage is of particular importance in rural areas which, while making up 90 % of
Europe's territory, are feeling the effects of abandonment, dwindling populations and economic stagna-
tion,

G. whereas Europe's islands, in particular the smaller ones, have largely succeeded in preserving unaltered
their original configurations, and their considerable cultural heritage requires suitable support, protec-
tion and promotion,

H. whereas it is important to conserve and develop not only monuments but also other elements of
cultural creation which shape and make possible suitable living conditions for today's inhabitants of
the EU,

I. whereas the European cultural heritage in its entirety, independently of its European, national or local

dimension, is of fundamental value to European citizens,

1.
Calls on the Council to recognise explicitly the contribution made by the cultural heritage to European
integration in terms of European identity and citizenship, sustainable economic and social development,
intercultural exchanges and cultural diversity;

2.
Calls on the Commission, in drafting its legislative proposals, to implement effectively the horizontal
clause of Article 151(4) of the EC Treaty with regard to culture, considering in depth the implications of the
proposed legislation for culture and the cultural heritage with a view to ensuring that measures to promote
them are embodied in all European Union policies;

Takes the view that the cultural heritage must be regarded as an indivisible whole requiring the adop-

3.
tion of joint protective measures;

4.
Stresses that sustainable development presupposes an integrated approach to the cultural, natural and
architectural environment in both urban and rural areas while calling for particular attention to be given to
the European cultural heritage in rural regions;

(1) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2005)0397.

C 305 E/256

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.12.2006

Thursday 7 September 2006

Stresses also that particular attention should be given to the protection and promotion of the natural

5.
and architectural heritage of Europe's island regions;

Takes the view that action taken in rural and island regions must take into consideration the following

6.
principles:

— a sustainable balance between population and environment,

— an integrated approach to traditionally agricultural areas,

— participation by the local population in the drafting and implementation of policies and alignment

between their views and the decisions taken by the central authorities;

— ongoing dialogue with civil society, private and voluntary organisations actively involved with the cul-

tural heritage,

7.
Urges the European Union, the Member States, the local authorities and cultural, non-governmental
organisations to take action to protect and rehabilitate Europe's cultural heritage, particularly small tradi-
tional communities, and raise public awareness of its importance;

Considers that the factors to be taken into account in order to develop this particular sector, with due

8.
regard to the subsidiarity principle, must include:

— a systematic survey of the rural heritage,

— the creation of a legislative framework to guarantee its protection, incorporating both incentives for the
conservation of traditional buildings and communities and measures to ensure that new buildings
activities are compatible with nearby historical buildings and with the local architecture,

— financial assistance for the restoration of local monuments and the continuation of traditional farming

methods,

— comprehensive restoration of traditional habitats and traditional forms of architecture, involving the
proper use of modern materials and the incorporation of modern fixtures in traditional structures in
such a way as to avoid detracting from their character,

— conservation of local know-how and traditional professions;

9.
Calls on the Member States and regional and local authorities to provide where necessary incentives
for the demolition or modification of buildings out of tune with and detracting from the particular archi-
tectural character of the community or locality in which they are situated or with the natural environment
and surrounding buildings;

Calls on the Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, to promote the protection and
10.
conservation of their cultural heritage through the Structural Funds and existing Leader +, URBAN II and
Interreg III initiatives which will, in the forthcoming financial period (2007-2013), be incorporated in the
new political cohesion and common agricultural policy financial instruments;

11.
Calls on the Member States to bear in mind that financial incentive strategies must involve coordina-
tion between central and local authorities and other local bodies and institutions (not forgetting that much
of the listed heritage is religious in nature) while seeking to protect and improve the natural and cultural
environment of the localities concerned;

12.
Considers that significant use can be made of the natural, architectural and cultural heritage of
Europe through the development, in rural and insular areas, of alternative forms of tourism, such as cultural,
walking, ecological and maritime tourism; stresses the need to promote policies which enable all European
citizens to enjoy the benefits of alternative tourism;

14.12.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 305 E/257

13.
Calls on the Member States to encourage and support the development of sustainable alternative
tourism, giving priority to small traditional communities with the assistance of Community financial instru-
ments such as the European Regional Development Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Devel-
opment, the European Fisheries Fund etc.;

Thursday 7 September 2006

14.
Calls on the Commission, within the framework of existing Community programmes, such as the
Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme, to promote measures to support craft, applied arts
and professional activities, particularly those in danger of disappearing and necessary for proper restoration
and conservation of the architectural heritage;

15.
Calls on the Commission and Member States to encourage training for professionals specialised in
the use and management of space, architecture, building restoration and repair and related activities, so as to
conserve the particularities of the cultural heritage while bringing them into line with current needs; calls in
addition for measures to improve training for craftsmen and suppliers of traditional materials and for the
selection of methods involving their continued use;

16.
Calls on the Commission, within the framework of the 7th Framework Programme for research,
technological development and demonstration activities (2007-2013) to support efforts to develop new
tools, techniques and methods for the conservation of the cultural heritage;

Calls on the Commission and Member States not to provide Community funding for projects which

17.
will demonstrably result in the destruction of valuable parts of our cultural heritage;

18.
Calls on the Commission, within the framework of existing Community programmes, to adopt mea-
sures to facilitate greater accessibility and encourage small companies, traditional crafts and trades and local
traditions and customs, by a large-scale campaign to promote villages and communities within the Member
States, so as to contribute decisively to the development of the local economy and to stem the rural exodus;

Calls on the Commission to promote the sharing and exchange of experiences in this field through

19.
international conferences and meetings;

20.
Calls on the Commission, principally within the framework of the Culture (2007-2013) Programme,
to give partner networks in the various Member States the opportunity of implementing multiannual pro-
jects to promote well-preserved traditional communities, with a population of, say, less than 1000;

21.
Considers that such measures will make it possible to organise cultural activities seeking to develop
the cultural heritage of these communities with the more long-term aim of strengthening cooperation
between traditional communities in Europe and enabling them to develop their specifically local cultures
together with their European dimension;

22. Wishes for the future development of an action in favour of small, traditional communities along the
lines of that instituting the culture capitals;

Considers that the ‘European Union Cultural Heritage Prize’ administered by ‘Europa Nostra’ is a
23.
valuable initiative which should be followed up in future; considers that, in this connection and in a wider
context, a new category of awards for the best overall restoration of a traditional community should be
introduced to encourage those communities which have managed to conserve all or part of their traditional
configurations to step up their efforts in this direction;

24. Welcomes the recent proposal within the framework of the Council for the drawing up of a Euro-
pean Heritage list and calls on the Commission to support it; takes the view that in this context, particular
importance should be given to the local cultural heritage of rural and island regions, taking account also of
the intangible aspects of the cultural heritage; takes the view that candidate countries must also be invited to
participate in this initiative;

C 305 E/258

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.12.2006

Thursday 7 September 2006

Calls on the Council and the Commission to promote a ‘European Cultural Heritage Year’ so as to
25.
make the European public more aware of the importance of taking the necessary measures to promote their
cultural heritage;

Calls on the Commission and Member States to cooperate with the Council of Europe with a view to
26.
further promoting traditional communities and the architectural heritage in rural and island regions as part
of the ‘European Cultural Heritage Days’ initiative so as to make the European public more aware of the
value of local architectural monuments;

27.
Calls on the Council, the Commission and the Member States to take account of the numerous
Council of Europe and Unesco conventions on the protection of the natural, architectural and cultural
heritage of Europe, and to strengthen their cooperation with those organisations in accordance with Arti-
cle 151(3) of the EC Treaty;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments

28.
and parliaments of the Member States and the Council of Europe.

P6_TA(2006)0356

Sri Lanka

The European Parliament,

European Parliament resolution on Sri Lanka

— having regard to its previous resolutions on Sri Lanka of 18 May 2000 (1), 14 March 2002 (2) and
its resolution of 13 January 2005 (4) on the tsunami disaster in the Indian

20 November 2003 (3),
Ocean and its resolution of 18 May 2006 (5) on the situation in Sri Lanka,

— having regard to the decision of the Council of the European Union of 29 May 2006 (6) to formally

proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE),

— having regard to the Tokyo Conference Co-chairmen's statement of 30 May 2006,

— having regard to the appeal of 12 August 2006 by the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference (EU,

USA, Japan, Norway) that both sides put an end to all breaches of the 2002 ceasefire,

— having regard to the statement of the Presidency of the European Union of 17 August 2006 on

Sri Lanka,

— having regard to the Tokyo Declaration on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka of

10 June 2003, which linked donor support to progress in the peace process,

— having regard to the Cease Fire Agreement signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE

which entered into force on 23 February 2002,

— having regard to the Oslo Declaration of December 2002, in which the Government of Sri Lanka and

the LTTE agreed to explore a solution based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka,

— having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

(1) OJ C 59, 23.2.2001, p. 278.
(2) OJ C 47 E, 27.2.2003, p. 613.
(3) OJ C 87 E, 7.4.2004, p. 527.
(4) OJ C 247 E, 6. 10.2005, p. 147.
(5) Texts Adopted, P6_TA(2006)0227.
(6) Council Decision 2006/379/EC of 29 May 2006 implementing Article 2(3) of Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001 on
specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities with a view to combating terrorism and
repealing Decision 2005/930/EC (OJ L 144, 31.5.2006, p. 21).