Culture
Promoting the "European heritage" label and supporting creative industries and the digitalisation of cultural content are the Presidency's cultural priorities, Spain's minister of culture Ms Ángeles González-Sinde told the Education and Culture Committee on Tuesday 26 January. Investing in culture can contribute significantly to Europe's recovery from economic crisis, she said.
Ms González-Sinde promised to strengthen access to cultural content on the internet and pursue the "Europeana" digital library project. It was feasible to widen online access to cultural works while protecting their copyright, the minister said in a reply to Helga Trüpel (Greens/EFA, DE).
While backing Spain's plans to foster cinema digitalisation, many MEPs stressed the need to promote European cinema in general, e.g. by establishing a European actor training centre (Lothar Bisky, GUE/NGL, DE), or providing financial support for young filmmakers (Piotr Borys, EPP, PL). Ms González-Sinde promised to take the MEPs' proposals into account, while not forgetting more traditional cultural activities, such as concerts, theatres or circuses.
"We have been flooded with cheap American cinema products. Can we combat that?" asked Chrysoula Paliadeli (S&D, EL). Committee chair Doris Pack (EPP, DE), suggested that the EU diplomatic service should help spread European culture. Ms González-Sinde agreed, promising to discuss this with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.