Article 1 Subject
The year 2009 shall be designated as the ‘European Year of Creativity and Innovation’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Year’).
Article 2 Objectives
1. The overall objective of the Year shall be to support the efforts of the Member States to promote creativity, through lifelong learning, as a driver for innovation and as a key factor for the development of personal, occupational, entrepreneurial and social competences and the well-being of all individuals in society. 2. The specific objectives of the Year shall be to highlight, inter alia, the following factors which can contribute to promoting creativity and a capacity for innovation: (a) providing an environment which is favourable to innovation and adaptability in a rapidly changing world; all forms of innovation, including social and entrepreneurial innovation, shall be taken into account; (b) highlighting openness to cultural diversity as a means of fostering intercultural communication and promoting closer links between the arts, as well as with schools and universities; (c) stimulating aesthetic sensitivity, emotional development, creative thinking and intuition in all children from the earliest stages of development, including pre-school care; (d) raising awareness of the importance of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship for personal development, as well as for economic growth and employment, and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, particularly among young people, through cooperation with the business world; (e) promoting education in basic as well as advanced mathematical, scientific and technological skills conducive to technological innovation; (f) fostering openness to change, creativity and problem-solving as competences conducive to innovation which are transferable to a variety of occupational and social contexts; (g) broadening access to a variety of creative forms of self-expression both throughout formal education and by means of non-formal and informal youth activities; (h) raising awareness among people, whether inside or outside the labour market, that creativity, knowledge and flexibility are important in a time of rapid technological changes and global integration for a prosperous and fulfilling life, as well as equipping people to improve their career opportunities in all areas where creativity and a capacity for innovation play an important role; (i) promoting design as a creative activity which significantly contributes to innovation, as well as innovation management and design management skills, including basic notions of protection of intellectual property; (j) developing creativity and innovative capacity in private and public organisations through training, and encouraging them to make better use of the creative capacities of both employees and clients.
Article 3 Content of measures
The measures to be taken to achieve the objectives set out in Article 2 shall include the following activities at European, national, regional or local level linked to the objectives of the Year: (a) conferences, events and initiatives to promote debate and raise awareness of the importance of creativity and a capacity for innovation; (b) information and promotion campaigns to disseminate key messages; (c) identification of examples of good practice and dissemination of information about promoting creativity and a capacity for innovation; (d) surveys and studies on a Community or national scale. In addition to activities co-financed by the Community in accordance with Article 6, the Commission or the Member States may identify other activities as contributing to the objectives of the Year and permit the use of the name of the Year in promoting those activities insofar as they contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in Article 2.
Article 4 Coordination at national level
Each Member State shall appoint a national coordinator responsible for organising its participation in the Year. The coordinator shall ensure the coordination at national level of activities relating to the Year.
Article 5 Coordination at European level
The Commission shall convene meetings of the national coordinators in order to coordinate at European level the implementation of the Year and to exchange information regarding its implementation at national level.
Article 6 Funding
Co-financing at European level of activities within the framework of the Year shall be in accordance with the priorities and rules applying, on an annual or multi-annual basis, to existing programmes, particularly in the field of education and training. Where appropriate, programmes and policies in other fields, such as culture, communication, enterprise, cohesion, rural development, research and the information society, may support the Year.
Article 7 Entry into force
This Decision shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .
Article 8 Addressees
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.