EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in the field of cultural policies

On 10 June 2009 the European Commission has published the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The document had been prepared within 3 years of joint work of 10 BSR countries, in many consultations on the governmental and regional level. The DG Regio had invited experts and citizens to consult the main visions and goals for our common future in Baltic Europe.

The consultation process of the EU Strategy for the BSR had generated a lot of positive energy and engagement in the cultural field. Many ministries of cultures, umbrella organisations and experts sent to Brussels their voices on highlighting art and culture in the process of sustainable development around the Baltic Sea.

The result, published as European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, came as astonishment and disappointment: in the whole document the word “CULTURE” does not appear.

How did it happen that in spite of big engagement of many people, culture and the Baltic Sea identity was not included as the essential and indispensable factor for “an accessible and attractive place” ?

ARS BALTICA Committee reverses this question and asks: what could we do to bring back art and culture to the policies in the Baltic Sea Region?