Even though initially the European Union (EU) was created as an economic union, after signing The Maastricht Treaty or Treaty on the Establishment of European Community in 1992 also culture fell within the scope of its attention. The inclusion of culture in the Treaty was important in order to safeguard European identity under the conditions of growing globalization.
EU culture policy is based on The Treaty of Amsterdam which was signed on 2 October 1997 and entered into force on 1 May 1999. It amended and renumbered previous Treaties with an aim to preserve legal capacity of the EU after its enlargement in 2004.
EU promotes the cooperation among its member states in the field of culture and supports their initiatives, but does not require harmonization of their cultural policies. The aim of EU culture policy is to preserve and contribute to the unique culture of each member state. EU strives to introduce the prominent values of European culture to the inhabitants of the member states. EU consistently protects the principle of the cultural exception which allows the member states to interfere in the regulation of cultural market with an aim to preserve the cultural diversity and heritage. The main cultural instruments for implementation of cultural policy in the EU are support programs and common initiatives in all fields of culture.
The moto of the European Union - united in diversity - expresses EU wish to safeguard its wealthy cultural and linguistic diversity and substantiates the duty for each member state to follow this aim and to preserve the unique culture and language.
Resolution of the Council on a European Agenda for Culture
EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORT PROGRAMMES:
- EU Culture programme
- EU support programme ,,MEDIA 2007’’
- EU support programme ,,Europe for Citizens’’
- EU Structural funds
- Other EU support programmes
EUROPEAN UNION INICIATIVES:
- Copyright and Neighbouring rights
- Architecture
- Archives
- Books
- Cultural Heritage
- Performing Arts
- Visual Arts
- Cinematography
- Free Movement of Goods and Services in the EU
- Digitisation
Contact EU Policy Division! - espolitikae-pasta simbolskm.gov.lv
