Campaign Launch '70 Cents for Culture'(1), European Parliament, Brussels

Campaign Launch '70 Cents for Culture'(1), European Parliament, Brussels

BRUSSELS, March 18/PRNewswire/ --

- Resounding Success: Support Across the Political Spectrum for a Major Increase in Funding to the EU Culture Budget!

The launch on March 15 "70 cents for culture" campaign(1) was a resounding success and an important step towards a larger European cultural budget for the period 2007-2013.

Currently, only 7 cents per EU citizen are spent for culture (annually 34 million EUR), a "disgrace" according to Andrew Duff (MEP, ALDE group).

Culture has to be placed in the centre of the European project; unanimously, the speakers from politics, business, the arts and culture and civil society supported the goal of the campaign: "We stand behind the campaign, we will take it very seriously" - "Culture can do a lot for Europe, but Europe should do a lot for Culture" (Jan Figel, Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, European Commission).

The campaign strives to increase the current annual budget of the EU Culture programme by tenfold, to 340 million EUR/year. The proposed 70 cents per EU citizen is "already very modest", according to Hannes Swoboda, Vice Chairman, PSE Group.

Culture's key role in the development of a peaceful, culturally diverse, prosperous and secure Europe cannot be denied or ignored, especially now. "Europe needs a face" (Bernard Foucroulle, Director Brussels Opera House, La Monnaie), a common cultural identity. Cultural exchanges, circulation of artists and cultural workers add essential value to European identity. Culture can no longer be seen as an isolated issue; it has "to be placed in the centre of politics" (Jan Figel), it has to become an "integrated part of Foreign Policies" (Delfïn Colomé). "Besides creating large economic volume, culture has the capacity of integration [that provides] stability which has social economic importance".

Speaking about the cultural budget in terms of "expenditure" is inaccurate. "It's an investment with a return. It pays off" (Philippe de Buck, Secretary-General of UNICE, 'The Voice of business in Europe').

Culture is a growing industry (e.g. tourism, film, music, etc.) which provides employment within greater Europe and contributes significantly to European GDP.

Facts and figures do not touch people. People do not "fall in love with markets" (Jan Figel). It's the feeling of belonging and the enthusiasm and participation of European citizens that are crucial to the success of Europe.

"More money is needed to invest in the heart of culture - bringing people from different cultural backgrounds together" (Hans-Gert Pöttering, Chairman EPP-ED Group). "The Commission has to be encouraged" (H.-G. Pöttering) to spend more money on cultural exchange and the realization of cultural projects which make a difference.

Culture needs transnational support now. The European Parliament must stand behind the campaign and the EU member states need to take action. "Sunday speeches" (Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-President of the EFA/Green Group) about culture should be followed by budgetary actions.

The campaign is launched; advocacy for a tenfold budget increase begins. The next steps are: steadfast awareness raising in the media, alliance building in the member states and mobilization of civil society actors.

Need more information about the campaign? Check our websites: www.eurocult.org / www.efah.org

(1)= This campaign is an initiative of the European Cultural Foundation (ECF) and the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (EFAH), benefiting from cross-party political support in the European Parliament. To obtain information about the European Cultural Foundation or the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage, please consult our respective websites.

Source: European Cultural Foundation

Isabelle Schwarz (Campaign Manager) or Mascha Ihwe (Press Relations) at the European Cultural Foundation: +31-20-573-38-68

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