UK Presidency of the EU programme
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On 12 July 2005, Minister for Culture David Lammy
presented the programme for the UK's Presidency
of the EU to the European Parliament Culture and
Education Committee |
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Mr Chairman, the Secretary of State has asked me to pass on her sincere apologies for not being able to be here today. I am sure you know that she has been asked by the Prime Minister to lead the Government's efforts to provide support to the families of the victims of last Thursday's appalling incidents in London.
I know you will understand that, at this difficult time, the Secretary of State felt she should be close by in London to extend all the help we can to those who have been affected so terribly by these incidents.
In passing on her apologies, let me say too that the Government and people of the United Kingdom all greatly appreciate all the messages of solidarity and support that we have received from colleagues across Europe. The British authorities continue work to deal with the ghastly aftermath of the attacks.
As my colleague Ruth Kelly said yesterday, attacks such as these are an affront to everything that the European Union stands for, and we stand together as we did after the attacks on Madrid last year.
In these difficult times, however, it is imperative that we together send the clearest possible message in our conduct to those that have perpetrated these vile acts. We will not allow these acts to change our democratic way of life that we enjoy in the European Union.
We will continue our work together and we will defy all who deal in hate and terror. So, I hope, Mr Chairman, colleagues, that you will accept the Secretary of State's apologies. I am very pleased to be here on her behalf to report to you the Council's agenda for the next six months.
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Mr Chairman, colleagues, an excellent relationship between the Council and you in the European Parliament, is absolutely crucial if we are to take forward our agenda successfully.
So, let me start by saying it was unfortunate that circumstances made it impossible for you and a number of colleagues to visit London during June. I would like to extend an invitation for you to visit at a convenient time later in the year.
For our part, the Ministerial team at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport plan to come back to the Parliament when we can, both at plenary and Committee.
I am grateful for the hard work and good progress achieved by the Luxembourg Presidency. As we take on the baton, we will be realistic about what we can achieve and will not endanger the achievement of consensus by being over-hasty. But we will make it our objective to pass on to Austria a good number of progress points in our multi-annual programme.
In doing so, it will of course be vital for us to work closely with your Committee. I hope we can move towards agreement in many areas and keep in close contact throughout the next six months.
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The future of Europe – a role for culture
In my presentation to you today, I will of course explain how the Presidency intends to make progress across the range of the Council's activities.
But I wanted to start by placing the work we do together in the context of the wider debate about what Europe is for and where it is heading.
In his speech to this Parliament at the end of last month, the Prime Minister voiced his passionate belief in Europe as a political and social project, as well as an economic one.
It is because of our belief in the idea of Europe in the widest sense that the Council thinks it essential for the institutions and leadership of Europe to reconnect with the concerns of our peoples.
And I think that culture exemplifies the challenges we face in trying to better understand what people want Europe to be.
Our peoples share many common threads of identity and culture. But there is also a rich and valued diversity of traditions – including those from beyond this continent.
This is a powerful medium through which people and communities can evolve their ambitions for Europe. Culture touches and involves citizens directly.
Across Europe, there is enthusiasm to communicate with fellow Europeans – reminding us in these uncertain times that people across the Union remain idealistic and positive about Europe. They do not want to go backwards. And nor do we.
I believe that Europe can use the unique power of its Union and of inter-governmental co-operation between member states to enhance access to culture and sport, and to support dialogue between our vibrant cultures.
We also believe that the cultural and creative industries can play an increasingly dynamic part in the success of the European economy, providing more jobs and prosperity.
Our industries are ambitious. In many areas they are at the forefront of technological development. They already make a significant contribution to prosperity and employment, and can do more.
For this reason, the Council welcomes and encourages the study, which the Commission is currently tendering for, into the ways in which creativity and the creative industries contribute to the achievement of the Lisbon targets.
The Presidency will work closely with the Commission in the development of this study and will look forward to the publication of a policy document early in 2006.
We are also hosting what I hope will be an ambitious and challenging conference, in London during October, about the creative economy.
So the Presidency will aim to take forward the Culture Council's work programme, focusing on actions that increase employment and enhance cultural opportunities.
We will be disciplined in focusing on actions that have clear and realistic objectives, and which add an identifiable European value to the activities of member states.
Going about our task in this way is always a good thing. But it is even more important now, when we need to convince those who find it difficult to see the difference that Europe can make. Our focus will be on delivery, not process.
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With that aim in mind, let me move on to the detail of our agenda – with the MEDIA programme. MEDIA and MEDIA plus have contributed enormously towards the development of a vibrant European audiovisual industry.
The main benefit has been the transnational distribution of works. MEDIA supports 90 percent of EU audiovisual works distributed outside the country of production.
Because of the success of the existing programme, we want to progress negotiations the new MEDIA 2007 programme.
The new programme will aim to make the European industry more competitive, increase the international circulation of European audiovisual products and preserve and enhance European cultural diversity.
It will continue to direct valuable support towards the pre- and post-production phases of film and programme making.
Under the Guidance of the Luxembourg Presidency the Council has already made a lot of progress on the non-budgetary issues and reached a partial general approach. We are now continuing work with Mrs Hieronymi and the rest of the Committee in order to bring our positions even closer.
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We will also prepare for the revision of the Television Without Frontiers Directive. We need this revision in part as a response to the development of new platforms for delivering TV. We anticipate that the Commission will produce a legislative proposal for a revision of the TVWF Directive by the end of this year.
Before then, the Presidency and the Commission will jointly host an expert Conference to discuss revision of TVWF – in Liverpool between 20 and 22 September. It is of course essential that industry and other stakeholders inform this process. I am glad that Mme Descamps, Frau Hieronymi, M Weber, Mr Joan i Mari and Mrs Honeyball will be able to attend.
And it is important to make sure that we regulate in a way that is enforceable and encourages the growth of new media services in the EU.
In line with our agreed approach to better regulation, the legislative proposal will be accompanied by a full assessment of its impact.
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Turning to the recommendation on the protection of minors and the right of reply – this clearly deals with important topics. The Council supports it in as far as it calls for increased media literacy and for protection for children and young people.
The Council will work with the Parliament in an effort to agree a text.
We have looked at the report by Mme (Marielle) de Sarnez, with interest. We also look forward to the conclusions which the Parliament will reach when it considers the Recommendation in plenary session in September.
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I will now turn to access to culture – and start with the Capital of Culture programme.
It is often cited as one of the most positive and popular European programmes and has delivered remarkable opportunities for cultural access.
Although discussions are still at an early stage, the Council generally welcomes the Commission's proposal to improve the procedures for the selection of the Capital of Culture.
We hope therefore that it will be possible to reach an early agreement with the Parliament on this proposal during our Presidency, so that the new Decision can be formally adopted early next year and can come into force in 2007.
And I look forward to working with Mrs Prets to that end.
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The Council will also continue its discussions on the proposals for a new Culture programme – building on the success of Culture 2000 programme.
We welcome the priorities proposed for the new programme - supporting the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector, the transnational circulation of works of art and artistic and cultural products, and encouraging intercultural dialogue.
I welcome too the way in which the new programme moves away from a sector-based approach – and instead is open to good quality projects from all sectors.
These are positive developments that have won support in the Council. However, we still have important issues that remain to be discussed and agreed on.
These issues include, for example, how we can ensure the participation of smaller organisations.
We very much look forward to hearing about the discussions on Mr Graca Moura's report.
There are a number of detailed discussions ahead of us, but I am confident that we can find a constructive and imaginative way through any difficulties.
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In addition to the legislative work that we have before us during the next six months, we also have a number of opportunities to engage European cultural organisations in joint working. This, we hope, will benefit citizens directly and highlight the way in which European action adds to cultural access.
One of the important work strands is that on circulation of museum collections within Europe. It is an amazing fact that - of the 22 billion objects in the 30,000 museums across the EU – nearly three quarters are in storage.
Member states will continue to work together to improve best practice in relation to the insurance of valuable articles when they are being moved, on loan agreements and on standards for couriers.
As part of these exchanges, we will bring together a conference of experts and cultural administrators in Manchester in November. We will look to museum professionals and cultural institutions across Europe to lead progress.
They will focus on facilitating mobility through indemnity schemes and on sharing best practice and building trust – so more institutions will consider lending to each other.
The Council's agreed long term aim is the development of an action plan by the end of next year. If we can achieve this, and see results in increased mobility, it will be great a boon to cultural access.
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Another powerful way of widening access to culture is by providing collections in a digital format. Digitisation also empowers users to interact with collections in a creative way.
As you will know well, Mr Chairman, our cultural and heritage organisations have limited resources, so co-ordination across Europe is a good way to deliver value for money and ensure that best practice is disseminated widely.
My colleagues from the Netherlands and Luxembourg have given this work momentum, and the Council is keen for this to continue.
We will therefore set as our target the agreement of a new action plan at our "Inspiring eLearning" conference to be held in Bristol on 16 November. In this new plan, we will aim to make sure that actions prioritise the needs of users.
We will also seek to reach agreement on the Council recommendation on the more effective presentation of archives. This, again, is an area where sensible joint working can achieve practical and valuable results.
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On sport, the Presidency will take forward the "rolling agenda" for discussion of matters where Member States can usefully co-operate on sports policy.
We plan to chair a meeting of Sports Ministers in September, in Liverpool. The agenda is likely to focus on:
- Anti-doping – where we hope for a statement of commitment to signing and ratifying the UNESCO Convention as quickly as possible
- Combating discrimination in and through sport – where we hope to agree action points
- The role of sport in the fight against obesity among young people
- The promotion of volunteering in the sport sector
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Culture and the debate on the future of Europe
Citizens for Europe
I want now to move on to the aspects of the Council's work that touch on the debate about the future of the Union – about the meaning of Europe.
It is in these aspects of our work that the discipline I mentioned in my introductory remarks will be most relevant. Our purpose as political leaders in these debates is of course to set out our vision for the future – as our predecessors did.
But we must now also listen more. If we do not, our Union risks separating itself from the concerns and aspirations of our peoples.
So, the Council does not presume to tell people how to be "better Europeans". Rather, it accepts that we must listen and learn what people wish Europe to mean in their lives.
It is in that spirit that we welcome the Commission proposal for a programme entitled "Citizens for Europe". It is timely and thought provoking.
At the May Culture Council, Ministers expressed widespread support for the aims of the proposed programme of promoting civic participation and cooperation between Member States' communities.
The proposal is an opportunity to consider how we can embed culture and citizenship as vehicles for debate within and between communities and civic society.
We hope to make progress on the Commission's proposal – we will look to develop well understood actions that facilitate a genuinely transnational aspect.
I very much look forward to working closely with my colleagues here – in particular Mr Takkula – and hearing the views and ideas of the Parliament on how this Programme can most effectively achieve its aims.
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The Committee will also be aware of the Commission's intention to introduce a proposal for a year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008. The Council looks forward to receiving this proposal.
As Presidency, we will work with the Commission to develop a shared and detailed understanding of exactly what we mean by intercultural dialogue – and what practical measures can be taken that add to the efforts of member states.
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We welcome the hard work of the Commission and the Luxembourg Presidency. The Council feels our cultural diversity is very important, and we wish to do everything we can to encourage it.
I understand the Council and the Commission were content with the outcome of the latest discussions in Paris last month. We hope, therefore, to gain agreement at the UNESCO general conference in October on the basis of the present text.
If the Convention is adopted, we expect to make early progress toward ratification.
Mr Chairman, colleagues, I hope you will agree that what I have described this morning is an ambitious agenda.
I am grateful for your time this morning and I, along with Tessa Jowell, very much look forward to working with you all in the next six months. I am sure it will be a successful period.
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