C 214/34
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
16.6.2023
Wednesday 18 January 2023
25.
Underlines the strategic roles played by international cultural cooperation and cultural diplomacy in EU foreign policy in strengthening relations with partner countries, promoting the EU’s democratic values, protecting cultural heritage abroad, promoting intercultural dialogue, the mobility of artists and cultural professionals, conflict prevention, countering disinformation and foreign interference in third countries and in the fight against illicit trafficking, looting and destruction of cultural property; calls for the EU’s cultural diplomacy to be strengthened by mainstreaming culture as a strategic pillar across the Union’s external action and by developing an EU instrument that embodies the cultural aspects of the Union worldwide and fosters international cultural relations based on cultural cooperation and co-creation, actively involving civil society and the cultural sectors of third countries; stresses that this instrument could provide EU capacity-building and financial assistance to cultural, creative and innovative sectors of third countries’ civil society; supports the inclusion of culture in all current and future bilateral and multilateral agreements, with due respect for the commitments made under the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions;
26.
Stresses that geopolitical and humanitarian global crises demonstrate the need for the EU to obtain credible and first-hand information on current and possible external threats to the EU, in order to be able to react rapidly and effectively, as well as to better protect its interests abroad; calls for the strengthening of the EU Intelligence and Situation Centre and the EEAS Crisis Response Centre by enhancing their resources and capabilities;
27.
Highlights the need to clearly define the competences of the VP/HR, the President of the Commission and the President of the European Council as the current regulatory framework provided both by the Treaties and the interinstitutional agreements on the external representation of the EU abroad is unclear about the competences of each institutional role; considers that this lack of clarity can lead to some duplication in the EU’s external action or confuse the EU’s counterparts and/or interlocutors worldwide in their relations with the Union;
Operationalising strategic autonomy
28.
Underlines that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and the Russian Federation’s grave and massive destruction, war crimes and deliberate violations of human rights and the fundamental norms of international law have highlighted the need for a stronger, more ambitious, credible, strategic and unified EU presence and action on the world stage; emphasises the need for the EU to more vigorously set its own strategic objectives, as provided for in the Strategic Compass, and develop the capabilities and enablers to pursue them, while working both autonomously and in close cooperation with like-minded partners; is of the opinion that regaining all of Ukraine’s occupied territories, safeguarding its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, the swift completion of the legal procedure for the confiscation of assets frozen by sanctions, as well as bringing the perpetrators, including Vladimir Putin and the top military and civilian leadership of the Russian Federation, to justice internationally should be considered a goal of EU policy towards Ukraine;
29.
Recalls that the EU will only become an effective diplomatic and security actor through strong action and that the EU will only increase its strategic sovereignty and solidarity through concrete measures, policies, budgets and commitments;
30.
Welcomes the shift in the Member States’ approaches, which signifies a move towards enhanced EU strategic autonomy through the swift implementation of the main actions laid down in the Versailles Declaration and the Strategic Compass; notes that these highlight the need to strengthen EU and Member State defence capabilities and to contribute positively to European, transatlantic and global security, in close collaboration, complementarity and coordination with NATO when relevant to the EU, in particular when moving towards creating greater EU strategic autonomy;
31.
Welcomes the adoption on 10 January 2023 of the third joint declaration on EU-NATO cooperation; urges the Union and those Member States who are also NATO allies to ensure the coherent implementation of the objectives and priorities highlighted in the Strategic Compass, NATO’s Strategic Concept and the third joint declaration; underlines that these strategic processes within NATO and the EU offer a unique opportunity to further intensify our consultations and cooperation in order to enhance the security of our citizens and promote peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area and beyond;