COUNCIL OF EUROPE
COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS
________
RESOLUTION (95) 38
ON THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S CULTURAL STRATEGY
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 7 December 1995
at the 551st meeting of the Ministers' Deputies)
The Committee of Ministers,
Having regard to Article 1 of the Council of Europe's Statute, whereby the Organisation's aim is "to achieve a greater unity between its members for the purpose of safeguarding and realising the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitating their economic and social progress", in particular by means of common action in cultural matters;
Bearing in mind the European Cultural Convention, signed in Paris on 19 December 1954, which constitutes the frame of reference for co-operation in defending and promoting the European identity and developing cultural co-operation between all the signatory states;
Recalling Committee of Ministers' Resolution (85) 6 on European cultural identity and the Declaration of 5 May 1989 on the Council of Europe's role in European construction, as a result of which the Council of Europe's action in the cultural field has been able to be extended to a growing number of states;
Conscious that in the Declaration adopted in Vienna on 9 October 1993, the Heads of State and Government of the member states of the Council of Europe expressed their conviction that "cultural co-operation, in which the Council of Europe is a prime instrument, is essential for creating a cohesive yet diverse Europe";
Observing that through its enlargement to include new member states which have rejoined the family of pluralist democracies, founded on the rule of law and respect for human rights, the Council of Europe has resolutely committed itself to a pan-European dimension;
Convinced that this new situation confers upon the Council of Europe new responsibilities in relation to European construction;
Believing that the recovery of democracy in central and eastern European states, with a view to a more united Europe, affords a historic opportunity to strengthen those values we hold in common, develop mutual enrichment and foster exchanges at European level;
Being aware of what culture and intellectuals represented in the defence of individual liberties and in keeping central and eastern European countries in the mainstream of Europe's cultural community during the sombre years of dictatorship and totalitarianism;
Wishing to strengthen the contribution that education, including adult education, the media, cultural action, the protection and enhancement of the cultural heritage, the improvement of the built-up environment and the promotion _ in particular through contemporary creativity _ of a new urbanism and sport make to the achievement of the aims of the Organisation, in the framework of pan-European co-operation;
Persuaded of the importance of young people actively participating in Europe's cultural co-operation;
Bearing in mind the specificity of cultural policies of member states;
Determined to fulfil its political responsibilities in developing guidelines for cultural co-operation within the framework of the European Cultural Convention,
I. Acknowledges that safeguarding and fostering the values shared by the nations and peoples of Europe and recognising and protecting their diversity is essential to strengthen democracy, social cohesion and the observance of human rights;
II. Appeals to all States Parties to the European Cultural Convention to play an active part in framing and implementing effective and appropriate joint initiatives, which will be of significant value to participants;
III. Selects as priority the following objectives which it assigns to cultural co-operation:
_ fostering democratic values and human rights according to a common cultural approach;
_ building confidence and mutual respect between nations and communities;
_ promoting awareness of the cultural community of the new Europe enriched by its diversity;
IV. Affirms its full political support for the programmes of assistance and co-operation with the states of central and eastern Europe, whilst stressing that they are also aimed at promoting exchanges of experience and mutual enrichment of states, local authorities and various public and private partners taking part in them;
V. Requests the Council for Cultural Co-operation, the Committee for the Development of Sport and, in as far as they are concerned, the Steering Committee on the Mass Media, the European Steering Committee for Intergovernmental Co-operation in the Youth Field and the governing goards of the European Youth Centres and European Youth Foundation to ensure the implementation of the aforementioned objectives through practical, well planned and properly defined projects designed to make the best use of resources and appeal to the full range of potential beneficiaries, whether public authorities, associations or individuals, whether concerned directly as creative and performing artists, sportsmen or women, participants in the education process, etc., or less directly through the enjoyment of art, culture, sport and the heritage. In all cases, these projects should have clearly defined objectives, the achievement of which can be evaluated both nationally and multilaterally;
VI. Instructs the Rapporteur Group on Education, Culture and Sport to hold regular meetings with the bureaux of the CDCC and CDDS, in order to keep the Committee of Ministers, the Council for Cultural Co-operation and the Committee for the Development of Sport informed about one another's activities and to ensure the coherence of their programmes with the priorities set by the Committee of Ministers for intergovernmental co-operation as a whole;
VII. Wishes the exchange of information, publication of research and dissemination of results to be an integral part of the Organisation's activities, at both the planning and the implementation stages;
VIII. Undertakes systematically to seek co-operation, partnership and co-funding of activities with other international organisations, including the European Union, and with European non-member states, public institutions, non-governmental organisations and private firms, as appropriate;
IX. Declares itself ready to deepen the dialogue with the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe in the areas covered by this resolution.