The international dimension
Cultural cooperation over many years has formed not only part of the assistance given to developing regions of the world but also provided for cooperation with our international partners.
Globalisation is now calling for an even more substantive recognition of the role of culture in international relations.
Support for the protection and promotion of cultural diversity as new element of international governance is high among the EU’s priorities.
This is why the promotion of culture as a vital element in the Union's international relations figures prominently in the European Agenda for Culture as its third objective.
As a party to the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and the Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the European Community, alongside the EU Member States, is committed to a stronger role of culture in the global governance, and is working on integrating the cultural dimension into all its external and development policies, projects and programmes, as well as take it fully into account in trade negotiations. It also seeks to include culture into the enlargement process.
Clear objectives
The Commission has identified specific international objectives for its cultural policy agenda. It aims to further develop cultural policy dialogue with all countries and regions, as well as foster more balanced cultural exchanges, by providing better access to Europe for cultural goods and services as well as culture professionals from developing countries. It will also use its external and development policies to protect and promote cultural diversity and activities through financial and technical support for both the preservation of and access to cultural heritage.
And, of course, the EU is actively involved in the work of international organisations dealing with culture, such as UNESCO and the UN’s Alliance of Civilisations, as well as regional organisations, such as the Council of Europe.
The third objective of the European Agenda has recently been followed up by a number of significant political developments.
