CULTURAL HERITAGE COUNTS FOR EUROPE

CHAPTER I. THE CULTURAL DIMENSION OF THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATION PROCESS NEEDS TO BE FURTHER ENHANCED

“The EU has reached a stage of its history when its cultural dimension can no longer be ignored. (…) If the economy is a necessity for our lives, culture is really what makes life worthwhile.(…)”
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Berlin, 26 November 2004

European civil society can only endorse the current political momentum to enhance the cultural dimension of the European integration process which was started as part of the work of the European Convention and subsequently reflected in the text of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (1). This momentum was forcefully confirmed by the committed speeches made by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, at the very beginning of the term of the new Commission (2). The organised civil society in the field of culture and cultural heritage which played an important part in mobilising political support for “giving more room for culture” in the policies and activities of the European Union will, of course, continue to contribute to the current – equally important – phase of discussions which should result in concrete decisions on EU policy and action.

In this context, the Constitutional Treaty constitutes an important milestone and a significant step in the right direction. Its preamble and its articles I.3.3 (on the Union’s objectives) and III.280 (on Culture) highlight the cultural dimension of the European Union and include the safeguarding and enhancement of cultural heritage among the main objectives of the Union. The introduction of the qualified majority rule for decision-making process in the field of culture also opens the way for a more effective and imaginative implementation of the legal framework for action provided by the Treaty. The main challenge in the immediate future is to ensure the full implementation of these important provisions of the Constitutional Treaty (3).

In the meantime, Europa Nostra believes that the existing Treaty provides already sufficient legal basis for the Union to develop a comprehensive strategy and action in favour of culture and cultural heritage. The EU Institutions and the European civil society should be inspired in this task by the political momentum and direction provided by the spirit and the text of the Constitutional Treaty.

We strongly believe that the Member States should lend their full support to the proposed strengthening of EU action in the field of culture and cultural heritage, without fears that such a development would be contrary to the proper implementation of the principle of subsidiarity. In fact, by reason of its scale and effect, the protection of Europe’s cultural heritage undoubtedly requires the involvement of the Union, in addition to the relevant policy and action of the Member States. This was recognised by the wording of article 151 of the existing Treaty and article III – 280 of the Constitutional Treaty. Since the article has explicitly limited the nature of EU action to “complementary action and measures”, excluding any possibility of harmonisation of national laws, no Member States should be opposed to the full implementation of the “cultural article” on the grounds of the principle of subsidiarity.

We also recognise that the “European added value” parameters should guide the Union’s strategy and action related to culture and cultural heritage, along the lines of the Council Resolution on the work plan on European cooperation in the field of culture of 9 December 2002 (4).

As far as the specific fields of cultural action are concerned, Article 151 of the existing Treaty and Article III 280.2 of the Constitutional Treaty stress the importance of contemporary artistic and literary creation as well as of the necessary safeguard of Europe’s cultural heritage, both in its tangible and intangible forms. Europa Nostra indeed believes that artistic creativity and cultural heritage conservation, enhancement and education are the two sides of the same coin: a Europe of Culture. The Union should therefore highlight and promote a constructive balance between these two essential elements of culture, contributing each to a sense of pride, a sense of belonging and a sense of citizenship – both national and European.

While fully supporting the broad “advocacy for culture” movement at European level, by means of the present document Europa Nostra wishes to highlight the specificity of the cultural heritage and the nature and importance of the multiple benefits which cultural heritage has for Europe’s society, environment and economy as well as for the entire European integration process. It makes a case for adequate EU strategy and action benefiting Europe’s cultural heritage.

(1) In the rest of the present document referred as the Constitutional Treaty.
(2) Berlin Conference “A Soul for Europe ” (November 2004), Rotterdam Conference “ Europe : A Beautiful Idea?” (December 2004), Brussels Conference (February 2005)
(3) EFAH/Europa Nostra joint statement at the Hearing organised by the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee on 25/11/2004; See: http://www.europanostra.org/downloads/documents/afco_hearing_november_%202004.doc
(4) See Council Resolution on the work plan on European cooperation in the field of culture: European added value and mobility of persons and circulation of works in the cultural sector, 9/12/2002 ; 14181/02, CULT 54.