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European Policy on Culture and Prospective Synergies: A Mission not so Impossible

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Innovative Approaches to Tourism and Leisure

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics ((SPBE))

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Abstract

The intense competition in the global socioeconomic environment forces countries to develop their competitive advantages. Culture constitutes one of the most valuable assets for such purposes and is distinguished for its ability to extend its dynamics beyond time and space limitations. The European Union demonstrates its strong interest in deploying its cultural resources by introducing interventions that proactively protect and promote its heritage. Such interventions have a significant influence on the prospects for economic development, increase of employment and enhancement of social cohesion and active citizenship. The paper focuses on the efforts of the European Union to make the most of its cultural advantages. The paper is organized with a twofold aim. On one hand, it highlights particular dimensions of the European cultural policy context. On the other hand, it focuses on two policy actions, the European Capitals of Culture and the European Heritage Label, and attempts to analyze their role as pillars of broader synergies in the field of culture. The particular initiatives are considered able to encourage cultural cooperation and to exercise an emblematic role as motivational factors of development in different fields of interest. Besides transforming the cultural expression in its tangible and intangible form and enhancing the European identity awareness, they facilitate the better understanding of cultural diversity and the development of multilevel and interactive synergies among various stakeholders. Finally, the paper aspires to define the ability of the particular instruments to serve as useful models for action at regional and local level.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Two Work Plans for Culture were implemented during the periods 2002–2004 and 2005–2007 with a certain contribution to strengthening “the aspirations towards a more practical, focused and result-oriented approach” (Council of the European Union, 2008, p. 1).

  2. 2.

    The five priorities of the Work Plan for Culture (2008–2010) were the following (Council of the European Union, 2008, Annex I):

    1. i.

      Improvement of the conditions for the mobility of artists and other professionals in the cultural field;

    2. ii.

      Promotion of access to culture, in particular through the promotion of cultural heritage, multilingualism, digitization, cultural tourism, synergies with education, especially art education, and greater mobility of collections;

    3. iii.

      Development of data, statistics and methodologies in the cultural sector and improvement of their comparability;

    4. iv.

      Maximization of the potential of cultural and creative industries, in particular that of SMEs;

    5. v.

      Promotion and implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

  3. 3.

    The six priorities of the Work Plan for Culture (2011–2014) were the following (Council of the European Union, 2010, Annex I):

    1. i.

      Promotion of cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue, and accessible and inclusive culture;

    2. ii.

      Promotion of cultural and creative industries (CCIs);

    3. iii.

      Development of skills and support of mobility;

    4. iv.

      Promotion of cultural heritage (including the mobility of collections);

    5. v.

      Enhancement of the role of culture in EU external relations;

    6. vi.

      Development of culture statistics.

  4. 4.

    For an extensive analysis of the European Union policy on culture, please see Boutsiouki, 2015, pp. 101–127.

  5. 5.

    The four priorities of the Work Plan for Culture (2015–2018) are the following (Council of the European Union, 2014, Annex I):

    1. i.

      Promotion of an accessible and inclusive culture;

    2. ii.

      Cultural heritage;

    3. iii.

      Focus on distinct cultural and creative sectors highlighting especially creative economy and innovation;

    4. iv.

      Promotion of cultural diversity, of culture in EU external relations and of mobility.

  6. 6.

    The Cultural Diplomacy Platform was officially launched on 26.01.2016. It is a two-year project that is implemented by the European Commission and the Goethe-Institut and aims at the meaningful engagement with third countries through cultural diplomacy activities. More details can be found at the Cultural Diplomacy Platform website: http://www.cultureinexternalrelations.eu.

  7. 7.

    In the beginning the action was named “European City of Culture”; the name was changed to “European Capital of Culture” later.

  8. 8.

    For indicative examples of particular cities, please see European Commission, 2009.

  9. 9.

    A more detailed presentation of the toolbox can be found at the official European Heritage Label website: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/heritage-label/managing-your-labelled-site_en.

  10. 10.

    The videos present the labeled sites and operate as “pull” factors for potential visitors or investors. This material has been developed under the Creative Europe program and shows the importance of pursuing combined interventions within the framework and the implementation of the EU cultural policy.

  11. 11.

    Detailed information on each site can be found at the European Heritage Label website: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/creative-europe/actions/heritage-label_en.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International and European Studies, University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Sofia Boutsiouki

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  1. Sofia Boutsiouki
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Correspondence to Sofia Boutsiouki .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IACuDiT and Technological Educational Institute (TEI) of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Vicky Katsoni

  2. Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Kathy Velander

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Boutsiouki, S. (2018). European Policy on Culture and Prospective Synergies: A Mission not so Impossible. In: Katsoni, V., Velander, K. (eds) Innovative Approaches to Tourism and Leisure. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67603-6_8

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