In order to implement its three strategic objectives (promotion of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue; promotion of culture as catalyst for creativity in the framework of the Lisbon Strategy; and promotion of culture as a vital element in EU external relations), the European Agenda for culture introduces new cooperation methods with various stakeholders:
a more structured system of cooperation between the Member States and the EU institutions ('open method of coordination']), a reinforced mainstreaming of culture in all EU programmes and policies through enhanced synergies between the departments of the European Commission, as well as a structured dialogue with the cultural sector.
Building on the successful achievements of the first European Culture Forum that took place in Lisbon in September 2007, and following an information session organised in Brussels on 19 February, a call for expressions of interest (the form) was published, with the view to giving cultural organisations of European dimension the opportunity to express their interest in participating in two new thematic civil society platforms on:
- access to culture and
- creative and cultural industries.
Using the criteria set up in the call, the Commission invited the following organisations (access to culture and potential of culture and creative industries) to a first constitutive meeting in Brussels in June 2008.
The composition of these two platforms is wide ranging giving thus a unique opportunity for organisations from the sector to work together on thematic issues of common interest.
These two newly established platforms complement the existing Rainbow Platform on intercultural dialogue, which was created ahead of the 2008 European Year on Intercultural Dialogue.
Together, the platforms are expected to produce policy recommendations to be discussed with the broader culture sector during a large-scale Cultural Forum in September/October 2009.
They will act as the channel for cultural stakeholders to provide concrete input and recommendations and - in this way - actively contribute to the implementation and further development of the European Agenda for culture.
To find out more about the platforms, listen to the speech delivered by Ms Quintin, Director-General of DG Education and Culture during the constitutive meeting of the platform on access.
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-policy-development/doc1199_en.htm
a more structured system of cooperation between the Member States and the EU institutions ('open method of coordination']), a reinforced mainstreaming of culture in all EU programmes and policies through enhanced synergies between the departments of the European Commission, as well as a structured dialogue with the cultural sector.
Building on the successful achievements of the first European Culture Forum that took place in Lisbon in September 2007, and following an information session organised in Brussels on 19 February, a call for expressions of interest (the form) was published, with the view to giving cultural organisations of European dimension the opportunity to express their interest in participating in two new thematic civil society platforms on:
- access to culture and
- creative and cultural industries.
Using the criteria set up in the call, the Commission invited the following organisations (access to culture and potential of culture and creative industries) to a first constitutive meeting in Brussels in June 2008.
The composition of these two platforms is wide ranging giving thus a unique opportunity for organisations from the sector to work together on thematic issues of common interest.
These two newly established platforms complement the existing Rainbow Platform on intercultural dialogue, which was created ahead of the 2008 European Year on Intercultural Dialogue.
Together, the platforms are expected to produce policy recommendations to be discussed with the broader culture sector during a large-scale Cultural Forum in September/October 2009.
They will act as the channel for cultural stakeholders to provide concrete input and recommendations and - in this way - actively contribute to the implementation and further development of the European Agenda for culture.
To find out more about the platforms, listen to the speech delivered by Ms Quintin, Director-General of DG Education and Culture during the constitutive meeting of the platform on access.
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-policy-development/doc1199_en.htm
The European Commission has given Japanese electronics giant Sony the green light to purchase outright the record label Sony BMG in an EUR 840m buy-out from German media firm Bertelsmann. The EU executive sees no competition worries resulting from the merger, but indie music labels say Brussels is missing the point - it is cultural diversity concerns that are under threat from the creation of such a music titan. On Monday (15 September), the EU executive said that after examining the deal, it was unlikely that the transaction would harm competition, over howls of protest from independent music firms. In August, Sony announced it intended to purchase Bertelsmann's 50 percent stake in Sony BMG, jointly owned by the two companies, for EUR 630m, as well as some EUR 210m in cash of Sony BMG revenues. Following the purchase, Sony will become the sole owner of Sony BMG, which will be renamed Sony Music Entertainment Inc. The Japanese firm would now become the second largest music company in the world. The commission said that the transaction would not lead to any 'horizontal overlaps in the music recording markets,' as Sony has no other music recording activities in Europe. The European independent music label trade association, IMPALA, however strongly disagreed, saying the merger threatens cultural diversity and that the commission did not carry out an in-depth investigation as to the consequences of the deal. (
