Culture: consideration of cultural aspects in the European Commnity action. Report

The Committee on Culture unanimously adopted the proposal for a resolution on integrating a cultural dimension into action by the European Community. The committee followed its rapporteur, Mr Escudero (PPE, E), who quoted the four sources of the principles of democracy, law, liberty and solidarity (Judaism, Hellenism, Romanism and Christianity), and emphasized the central role of culture in relation to internal Community policies, now enshrined in Article 128 of the Maastricht Treaty. Using this legal basis, the scope of which should be extended to include, for example, the protection of European languages, the draft resolution encouraged closer relations with the Council of Europe and UNESCO and a more marked influence on international relations and foreign policy, called for "integrated" cultural programmes from the Commission, especially by making cultural policy one of the priorities of the EU structural funds and proposed, in order to counter the negative impact on culture of major public construction projects, that a percentage of appropriations from European funds be earmarked for a work of art to adorn the project in question. Finally, the committee reaffirmed its support for cultural networks, especially through European cultural foundations, and addressed the subject of education, recommending, inter alia, that the curricula of the Member States include compulsory teaching of the history of Europe.�