European Union and Culture
In 1992 during negotiations in Maastricht, the Members States agreed that the European Union would not only represent an economic community but also a community of values. Therefore, the Maastricht Treaty enshrines that the European Union will contribute to the development of cultural life in the Member States. In this respect, a new article concerning culture was included in the Treaty through Article 151 of the Amsterdam Treaty (ex Article 128), stating that the Member States recognise culture as an important part of the European Union.
Article 151, also known as the ”cultural article,” represents the legal framework for cultural activities within the European Union. It specifies the limits and opportunities for cultural and political life in the European Union.
This Article describes three main objectives for the Community action in the cultural field.
1. contributing to the flowering of the cultures of the Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore;
2. supporting contemporary creative activities; and
3. encouraging co-operation between the Member States, third countries and the competent international organisation.
Under Article 151 paragraph 4, the European Union undertook to take cultural aspects into account in its actions at all policy levels (Clause on Cultural Cohesion). This means that the European Union should also, for example, take the cultural dimension into account when making economic decisions. However, as it is not a legally binding regulation, it depends mainly on the political players as to whether they will comply with this obligation. Culture is supported in the European Union on the principle of solidarity.
Title VII of the European Accession Agreement concluded between the European Communities and the Slovak Republic envisages cultural co-operation between the European Union and the Slovak Republic. The Additional Protocol to the European Agreement enables Slovakia to participate in the Community cultural programmes under the terms and conditions decided by the European Commission.
Programmes of the Member States in the cultural fields are financed from the European Union budget. However, the associated countries do not contribute to the general budget of the European Union; their participation in programmes is possible only after payment of the respective financial contribution. Programmes are open on the basis of a decision taken by the Council of the European Union and last for a definite period according to conditions specified in the decision.
The European Union has used its powers in the cultural filed and established the following Community programmes, known as the first generation of support programmes for culture within the European Union:
KALEIDOSCOPE PROGRAMME (1996-1999) - intended to encourage artistic activities and co-operation with a European dimension in the cultural field, the total programme budget was ECU 36.6 million.
ARIANE PROGRAMME (1997-1999) - intended to support projects in the field of literature and translation, the total programme budget was ECU 11.1 million.
RAPHAEL PROGRAMME (1996-1999) - supplementing policies of the Member States in the field of cultural heritage of European importance, the total programme budget was ECU 30 million.
The Culture 2000 programme has became the second generation of support programmes for culture. The CULTURE 2000 programme has been established for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006.
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