European programs for culture and sport as an instrument of sharing and
promotion of solidarity, democracy and friendship amongst people
Dr. Laura Cascone
What does the European Union do to support culture?
Article number 151 (formally no. 128) of the Amsterdam Treaty determines that:
1. The Community actively contributes to the cultural development of Member States fully respecting
their national and regional differences, and emphasizing at the same time the common cultural
inheritance.
2. The actions of the Community are meant to encourage cooperation amongst Member States and,
when necessary, support and integrate the Member States’ actions in the following sectors:
o improvement of knowledge and of promotion of history and culture of european countries
o maintenance and safeguard of cultural heritage important throughout Europe;
o cultural and not commercial exchanges;
o creation of literature, art and audiovisuals
3. The Community and Member States encourage cooperation with other countries and international
organizations which are proficient on cultural matters, especially with the Council of the European
Union.
4. The Community takes cultural aspects into account when acting in accordance with the
regulations of this treaty, especially in order to respect and promote the diversity of its cultures.
5. To contribute to the realization of the objectives set in this article, the Council enacts....(....)...
incentivization actions, except for any harmonization of regulations and legislative dispositions of
the Member States.
The program “Culture 2000” was adopted in February 2000 on the basis of article number 151 of the
Amsterdam Treaty this program is the first community program to be carried out in the culture
section.
Culture 2000
the only programming and financing instrument in favour of cultural cooperation replacing previous
programs:
Caleidoscopio (for art and entertainment)
Arianna (for books and literature)
Raffaello (artistic heritage)
The program aims to contribute to the development of a common cultural space for european
countries, distinguished by a cultural inheritance which provides cultural and artistic diversity
Was constituted for a five year duration (2000-2004) then the European Parliament published
Decision N. 626/2004/CE which determined the extension of the duration of Culture 2000 until the end
of 2006, andthe assignment of further funding to support the realization of the program for two extra
years.
The future program
On July 14th 2004 the European commission took ambitions proposals concerning the new
generation of programs in education, training, youth, culture and audiovisuals, which, starting in
2007, will subsite the current Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci, Tempus, Youth, Culture 2000 and Media
Plus.
The program will be named « Culture »because of the cultural cooperation involved
It will be operational between 2007 and 2013 with a proposed budget of 408 million euros
The program will have to take into account the extraordinary diversity of cultural cooperation in
Europe, considering its current geographical vastness.A complete review of the program, as well as
of the available budget for funding of the projects, was necessary taking for granted the real
contribution that culture offers to knowledge amongst people, as a means that engages all citizens
with no social or financial distinctions.
Before launching the program a lot of evaluation, thought and consultation was undertaken.
This is what emerged:
The cultural action was fragmented with too many objectives and limited resources
Some disciplines were not included
More effective instruments are necessary to comment on objectives and on means of cultural
cooperation
Objectives
Culture 2007 includes three objectives, destined to boost the European added value:
transnational mobility for those who work in the cultural sector in the European Union;
support for transnational circulation of works of art and of cultural or artistic products;
support for intercultural dialogue.
Each project will have to pursue at least two of the three objectives
Projects that satisfy all three objectives of the program will be prioritized
Actions
The program will be broken down into three types of actions:
1: Support to cultural actions
Cooperation centres (projects that concern various cultural sectors and have different lengths 3-5
years)
Cooperation actions (experimental projects of 1-2 years)
Special actions (European capitals of culture)
2: Support for active European organisms in the cultural sector
(Ambassadors of European culture)
3: Support to analysis, gathering and promotion of cultural information
(information activity and promotion of cultural data; support of the Contact and Culture Points)
Multilateral cooperation is an extremely important aspect in Europe,
of global vision of the
cultural sector and the development of a European identity which still respects the individual
national identities that are the foundation of the European principles.
1° type of actions: support of cultural actions
1.1: cooperation centres -Multiyear cooperation projects – (3-5 years)
o
o
Every centre must be made up of at least six operators from six different participating
countries and it can unite operators from different sectors around various activities or
multiyear projects, of either sectoral or trans-sectoral nature
The centres must be founded on a cooperation agreement ( a common document which is
signed by all participants and is legally valid on one of country )
1.1: cooperation centres - Coopearation projects lasting several years
o
o
o
Community support must not exceed 50% of the budget of the project and is decreasing.
It mustn't exceed 500.000 euros a year.
Support is granted for no longer than five years.
1.2: cooperation actions are of sectoral and not trans-sectoral kind,
o
o
creativity and innovation must prevail,
every action must be realized in partnership with at least three cultural operators and
three different participating countries (the operators may be of one or more sectors)
o
Community support mustn’t exceed 50% of project budget and it can’t be under 50.000 or
over 200.000 euros a year.
Support is granted for 24 months at most.
o
1.3: special actions
o
They show relevant potential and proportions, they are given much publicity amongst
European countries and contribute to giving consciousness of belonging to the same
community
o
They may be prizes given to artists, works of art, cultural or artistic performances, which
encourage mobility and exchange
o
o
Support to “European capitals of culture” is also relevant
as is support to cooperation actions with other countries and international organizations
o
o
Community support should not exceed 60% of the project budget
Approximately 17% of the program’s total budget is set aside for this type of action
2° type of actions: support to culturally active European organizations and to
initiatives meant to preserve the main sites and archives connected to
transportation
2.1: support to running of organizations of cultural interest on a European level
o
o
Organizations which work in favour of cultural cooperation can benefit from this support
by gathering and divulging information to help trans-european cultural cooperation, and
by taking part in the realization of cultural cooperation projects and by taking the role of
ambassadors of European culture
Funding must not exceed 80% of financing expenses of the organization in the calendar
year for which funding is granted
2° type of actions: support to culturally active European organizations and to initiatives meant to
preserve the main sites and archives connected to transportation
2.2: support to initiatives meant to preserve the main sites and....
o
supports projects to erect monuments in former concentration camps or in places of civil
extermination or martyrdom, as well as initiatives meant to preserve the memory of
victims of such places
3° type of actions: support to analysis and promotion of information in the
cultural cooperation sector
3.1: sostegno a lavori d’analisi nel settore della cooperazione culturale
In tale contesto sarnno finanziati gli studi e i lavori di analisi che contribuiscono ad arricchire la
conoscenza del fenomeno della cooperazione culturale trans-europea (mobilità degli operatori,
circolazione opere d’arte e dei prodotti artistici.....)
3.2: support to gathering and diffusion of information in the cultural cooperation sector
support is granted to gathering and promotion of information through an adequate Internet website
for cultural professionals (exchange of experiences)
3.3: support to points of cultural contact
o
o
o
o
The program includes the creation of the “points of cultural contact” close to
beneficiaries who work on national level, they are constituted by the Commission in
partnership with the Member States and on a voluntary basis
To promote knowledge about the program and give support
In the final analysis European citizens are those who benefit from the EU actions in the
cultural sector;
However European institutions need mediators to get to the citizens: theatres, museums,
professional organizations, universities, centres of research, cultural institutions.....
Who can take part?
European Union countries
o Countries from the SEE area (Iceland, Lienchtenstein, Norway)*
o Candidate countries (on the basis of pre-participation agreements)
o Western Balkan countries (on the basis of specifical agreements)
o After the SEE’s mixed committee decision
A public consultation is currently open to let active parties in the cultural sector express an opinion
on the a Board of Communication which will be launched during the first four months of 2007.
The online consultations must be carried out in English or French filling the form that can be found
at the following address:
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/eac/communication/consult_en.html
Final date for submission is 5 november 2006
The Commission will then plan a public hearing in december 2006 in Brussels
to discuss the Announcement
Where can support be found?
In Italy at:
Antenna Culturale Europea
Piazza Castello 9 – 10123 Torino
Tel: +39 011 547208
Email: info@antennaculturale.it
And also at
Education, Audiovisual, & Culture Executive Agency
BOUR - 1049 Bruxelles
Agency offices:
Rue Colonel Bourg 135-139 - B-1140 Evere
Telephone:
+32 (0) 2 299 11 11
e-mail address:
eacea-info@ec.europa.eu
http://eacea.cec.eu.int/static/index.htm
“CULTURE”

some calls should be published in november 2006 with deadline in february 2007

The Commission’s proposal hasn’t been officially approved yet by the European legislator
but some encouragement to post proposals may be published in advance to help accelerate
the realization of the program
On October 25, 2006 a “Culture” invitation was published for the “promotion of active organizations
in the cultural sector in Europe”
deadline:22 december 2006
Budget: 4,8 million euros
Other programs that support Culture
Here are some examples: The MEDIA program (Mesures pour Encourager le Développement de
l'Industrie Audiovisuelle) is a community program designed to support the European audiovisual
industry which is at DG Information Society and Media.
The MEDA II program Euro-mediterranean partnership cooperation program (2000-2006)
Based on the Barcelona declaration the 12 mediterranean partners are: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel,
Jordan, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Palestinian Authority.
Here is an interesting example:MEDA II
Summon > for euro-mediterranean dialogue projects within the Anna Lindh Foundation program
(ALF) for dialogue amongst cultures
MEDA II
Theme A: Euro-mediterranean music and other artistic and cultural creations
Objective: to support initiatives that encourage communication, exchange of experiences and a joint
creation amongst euro-mediterranean artist, musicians and writers
Target groups: artists, musicians, writers, artistic and cultural organizers, other organizations with
artistic components; schools and art and music education centres.
Theme B: Euro-Mediterranean program for schools
Objective: to support school projects with exchange and cooperation amongst teachers, educators
and students (between 12-18) in the euro-mediterranean area.
Target groups: institutions which are part of regional school networks, schools involved in school
exchange projects, students, teachers, educators, institution directors and ONG that promote
dialogue amongst cultures.
Theme C: Euro-mediterranean team of young researchers
Objective: to promote exchange and cooperation amongst young researchers within natural and
social scientific research
Target groups : young researchers and post-grad students (under 40 years of age) in universities
and research institutes that are active in the euro-mediterranean area.
Theme D: Summer schools / exchange programs
Objective: to promote the growth of mobility amongst young people and encourage exchange, joint
creation and contribution to the local community and development.
Target groups : organizations for young people, young artists and writers, other institutions and
organizations that promote exchange programs and development schemes.
Theme E: Libraries, promotion of books and reading and translations
Objective: to increase citizen participation to information and knowledge by creating networks and
language pluralism, libraries, books, reading, translations and information.
Target groups: libraries and librarians, writers and readers, translators, editors and publishers,
cultural and writers’ clubs.
Theme F: Intercultural exchanges for women in public society organizations
Objective: to increase women’s participation in decision making at all levels.
Target groups: active young women (under 40 years of age) on a regional and national level inside
public society organizations, unions, local and regional authorities in the euro-mediterranean area.
Community funding available is 1.500.000 euros.
Community contribution will cover up to 50% of the project’s admissible cost, and will be between 10
thousand and 35 thousand euros.
Dead-line:
March 1st, 2006 -June 1st, 2006 - November 1st, 2006
The invitations is open to all non-profit-making legal entities such as: ONG, educational, cultural,
academicor research institutions, media, foundations or local authorities in the EU or PTM.
Projects must be presented by a partnership of at least 4 organizations.
Taking into account “landscape” as part of the cultural heritage it is useful to consider the
opportunities offered by:
LIFE+
the Financial instrument for the environment To promote the sustainable Union
LIFE+ ‘s main objective will be to contribute to the drafting, realization, monitoring, evaluation and
communication of community policies and regulations in the environmental field in the attempt of
promoting sustainable development in the EU.
On September 29, 2004 the Board presented the proposal for the future program in the environmental
sector LIFE+ (2007-2013). On October 25 and 26 the PE voted on LIFE+
LIFE+ = two components:
“LIFE+ - Realization and governance”, aims to improve the basis of knowledge in order to draft and
execute environmental policies.
“LIFE+ - Information and communication” aims to:
– ensure the diffusion of information and awareness of environmental issues;
– support backing measures (for example publications, events, campaigns, conferences etc....).
What does the EU do to support sports?
The European Commission isn’t responsible for sport issues and it is the Member States’ and sport
organizations’ duty to take responsibility for this sector. At times, however, the EU may want to
contribute to the debate without straying from its jurisdiction. Regular contact with nongovernmental and sport organizations is therefore of vital importance.
On the other hand, the opportunity for debate was stressed in the declaration attached to the
Amsterdam Treaty:
"29. Declaration on sport
The Conference emphasizes the relevance of sport an the role it assumes moulding one’s identity
and getting people together . The Conference therefore summons the members of the European
Union to pay attention to sport organizations when they are dealing with sport related issues.
Special attention should be given to amateur sport".
The theme of sport was developed during the 80s following "Citizen’s Europe".
In fact the Adonnino essay, was at the source of actions to increase awareness and communication
amongst citizens through sport. The suggestions from that essay were taken into account by the
European Board in Milan in 1985.
The Amsterdam declaration represented a very important step to considering sport on a community
level.
Thanks to the input given by this declaration, the Community presented a global vision of sport for
the first time in the report presented to the Helsinki Conference in december 1999 and with the
declaration presented at the European Conference in Niece in 2000.
This vision goes beyond the traditional consideration of sport as an horizontal sector of involvement
of many policies. It determines a uniform and coherent doctrine in this sector, underlining the
importance and the social function of sport and the need to take into account its characteristics
when realizing all community policies. The Commission has therefore vowed to follow up on the
Helsinki report on sport.
Based on this, the 11 Member States of the European Union declared their approval to the
introduction of an article concerning sport, during the informal meeting of Almeria in May 2002.
The sport movement favourably received this proposal. The project presented by Valery Giscard
d'Estaing at the European Conference of Tessalonica in June 2003, mentions sport and its
educational role in article III-182, and in article number 16 sport is included amongst the sectors in
which the European Union can intervene with support, coordination and completion actions. This
project is what the Intergovernmental Conference of october 2003 is based on.
2004 - European Year of education through sport
Objectives

To improve the partnership between education and sport, to use the values of sport to serve
education, to increase sport volunteerism

This European Year, which coincided with some very important sport events such as the
European Football Cup which took place in Portugal and the Olympic Games in Athens, was
granted 11,5 million euros by the European Parliament.

Some of this money was used for differently sized projects, community or local, for which the
Commission published and invitation to present proposals.

The national coorditation organizations were designated by the participating States for the
realization of AEES 2004.

Amongst the various functions: to inform the public about the activities related to the
European Year of education through sport 2004; to coordinate and organize information and
communication campaigns on a national scale; to take part in the choice of co-funded
projects.
European Commission
Education and Sport Culture Headquarters (D3)
B - 1049 Bruxelles
on the website the published call for proposal or call for tender can be consulted for prospective
projects
Office of National Coordination:
ITALY
Dr. Romano Sebastiano Maria
Headquarter for student status, youth policies and
physical exercise
Via Ippolito Nievo 35
00153 Roma
Tel: 00 39 / 0658 496197
Fax: 00 39 / 0658 495907
e-mail: mariolina.moioli@istruzione.it ; andreadelpin@libero.it
Office of National Coordination::
POLAND
Irmina Rozkiewicz
Ministry of national education and sport
Department for international cooperation
25 Szucha Av. 00-918 Warsaw
Tel: 00 48 22 628 41 35
Fax: 00 48 22 628 85 61
e-mail: rozkiew@menis.gov.pl
Today a debate is being carried out about the introduction of sport in the community regulations.
The work of the European Conference on the future of Europe, which started in february 2002 and
finished in June 2003, offered the opportunity to do this. Various members of the Conference
proposed for sport to become one of the sectors for which the actions of the European Union can
complete those of the Member States, that maintain full proficiency on legislation.