"Culture" programme

This Decision establishes a financing and programming instrument for cultural cooperation for the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013. It provides for a budget of EUR 400 million to develop transnational cultural cooperation between operators from the countries of the European Union or third countries participating in the programme. The aim of the "Culture" programme is to support cultural cooperation actions, European organisations active in the field of culture and the collection and dissemination of information in the field of culture. This new instrument follows on from the Culture 2000 framework programme, which covered the period 2000-2006. It is more complete, more open and more user-friendly.

ACT Decision No 1855/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing the Culture Programme (2007 to 2013). SUMMARY Following the example of previous cultural programmes, the general objective of the programme is to enhance the cultural area common to Europeans with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship. Three objectives The programme has three central objectives with a significant European added value:

supporting the transnational mobility of professionals in the cultural sector; encouraging the circulation of works of art and artistic and cultural products beyond national borders; promoting intercultural dialogue.

To receive Community support, the projects chosen will have to meet one or more of these objectives. Three levels of intervention In order to meet the above objectives, the Commission establishes three levels of intervention, which respond to distinct needs:

support for cultural actions. This Decision identifies three types of cultural action eligible for Community support: - multi-annual cooperation projects. These projects will be based on cooperation between at least six cultural operators from at least six countries taking part in the programme. These professionals from the cultural sector will work together on various activities with a common goal. The cooperation projects will last between three and five years and be based on a cooperation agreement. The objective of Community support is to help these projects in their start-up or extension phase with a view to becoming sustainable. The projects eligible for this support will be selected following calls for proposals. The selection criteria will be based essentially on the level of expertise of those taking part in the cultural project, their financial standing and professional competence and the quality and European added value of the activities or their relevance to the programme's objectives. Community support may not exceed 50% of the eligible budget of the project, and may not exceed 500 000 per annum for all the activities of all the cooperation projects; - cooperation actions. These are cultural cooperation actions between European operators lasting a maximum of two years. Priority will be given to creativity and innovation. Each action is to be carried out in partnership by at least three cultural operators in three different participating countries. Actions aimed at exploring avenues for cooperation in order to develop them over the longer term will be strongly encouraged. The selection will be made following a call for proposals. The selection criteria will be the same as those for the multi-annual cooperation projects. Community support will be between 50 000 euros and 200 000 euros over a period not exceeding two years; - special actions. Assistance will also be provided for special actions which are emblematic and far-reaching. To qualify, actions must strike a significant chord with the peoples of Europe and help to increase their awareness of cultural diversity and their sense of belonging to the same community. One example of such an initiative would be the "European Capitals of Culture". The selection procedures for special actions will depend on the action in question; financing may not exceed 60% of the project budget;

support for organisations active in the cultural sphere. This assistance is for organisations which have genuine influence at European Union level or cover at least seven European countries. Organisations may benefit from this support if they provide representation at Community level, disseminate information for facilitating cultural cooperation at Community level or participate in cultural cooperation projects by acting as ambassadors for European culture. The selection will be made following a call for proposals; support for analyses, for the collection and dissemination of information and for the optimisation of the impact of projects in the area of cultural cooperation and policy development. The objective of this support is to increase the volume and quality of information and data on cultural cooperation and policy development at European level and to promote their dissemination, including via the Internet. It is also aimed at ensuring targeted, local dissemination of practical information on the programme. For this purpose, culture contact points will be set up to promote the programme, encourage participation in its activities by as many professionals and operators in the cultural field as possible and provide an efficient link with the various institutions providing cultural support in the Member States.

A more user-friendly programme The Commission will entrust the management of the programme to an executive agency and introduce simpler methods for beneficiaries. It intends to simplify forms, make the award procedure more transparent and improve information on grant awards. It also wishes, while complying with the financial regulation in force, to apply the proportionality principle. Prevention of fraud

The Commission will continue to apply an audit system to check the use made of grants and ask grant beneficiaries to provide supporting documents at any time for a period of five years. It also has access to the offices of beneficiaries and to all necessary information. The results of these audits may, where appropriate, lead to recovery decisions. The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office ( OLAF ) have the same rights. Cooperation with third countries Subject to certain conditions, the programme is open to participation by:

the countries of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein); candidate countries benefiting from a pre-accession strategy; the countries of the Western Balkans.

The programme is also open to cooperation with other third countries which have concluded bilateral agreements with the EU which include cultural clauses. Budget The budget proposed initially for the "Culture 2007" programme, for the period 2007-2013, is EUR 400 million. Below is an indicative breakdown of this budget:

approximately 77% for support for cultural actions; approximately 10% for support for organisations; approximately 5% for analysis and information; approximately 8% for programme management.

Background The legal basis for Community action in the field of culture is Article 151 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. This Article focuses on the promotion of cultural diversity and the common cultural heritage while respecting the principle of subsidiarity. The Culture 2007 programme, which follows on from the Culture 2000 programme and the former Raphael, Ariane and Kaleidoscope programmes, has been established within this framework. The Culture 2000 programme remains in force until the end of 2006, as does the programme to promote organisations of European cultural interest. At the midway point, not later than 31 December 2010, the Commission will publish the first interim evaluation report on the programme. This report will be followed by a communication on the continuation of the programme, not later than 31 December 2011. Finally, by 31 December 2015 at the latest, the Commission will present a final evaluation report. European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008)

Given the successive enlargements of the European Union and the increased mobility of its citizens, the Member States' role in allowing culture to flourish has become essential. In this spirit, the EU is to create a single means by which to raise awareness and promote the cultural sphere with a view to encouraging EU inhabitants to manage cultural diversity. The Commission therefore proposes that 2008 be declared the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue.

ACT Decision No 1983/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) [Official Journal L 412 of 30 December 2006]. SUMMARY This initiative ties in with a number of fundamental principles of the European Union set out in the Treaty establishing the European Community and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, both of which lay particular emphasis on respect for, and the promotion of, the idea of cultural diversity. It reflects a number of priorities defined under the Lisbon Strategy, and the Commission underlines the contribution which this intercultural dialogue may also make to the achievement of these economic objectives. For example, the knowledge-based economy needs people who can adapt to change and take advantage of all possible sources of innovation. The Commission gives this initiative Community impetus, pointing out that it is by no means limited to action at national level. The general objectives focus on raising awareness of, and promoting, intercultural dialogue for the benefit of European citizens and all those living in the European Union. Beneficiaries and interested parties The European Year is aimed mainly at the Member States of the European Union. However, complementarity between the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and all external strands of the initiative to promote intercultural dialogue will be ensured. One example would be the initiatives undertaken with the Balkan countries or with European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner countries. It is not just one sector which is envisaged in the initiative for intercultural dialogue - all sectors of society are concerned. All European citizens and all people living in the EU are invited to take part in this dialogue. Objectives and methods

The aim of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue is to increase the visibility, efficiency and coherence of all the Community programmes and actions which contribute to intercultural dialogue, such as the citizenship programme for 2007-2013 and the future " Culture " programme. This initiative can be incorporated into any relevant Community action when the latter's objectives and management structure are compatible. The Year will focus on three types of action:

an information and promotion campaign at Community level, and national-level localisation; cooperation with the private sector and the production of suitable tools and resources; a series of surveys and studies for the long-term evaluation and monitoring of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, planned for the end of 2009 at the latest; an 80% grant for a limited number of symbolic actions at Community level to raise awareness, particularly among young people, of the objectives of the European Year; the co-financing of actions at national level which have a strong European dimension and are eligible for Community aid of up to 50% of the total cost.

Non-financial support is planned in the form of authorisation to use the logo and other materials associated with the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. This support will be provided for initiatives undertaken by public and private bodies, provided that they can assure the Commission that the initiatives in question are likely to contribute significantly towards achieving the objectives of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. As a Community development action, the Year is run on a budget allocation estimated at 10 million euros. The dynamic created by the Year should, in the opinion of the Commission, enable additional financial resources to be harnessed. RELATED ACTS Decision 1904/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing the programme "Citizens for Europe" to promote active European citizenship for the period 2007-2013.

In order to ensure that citizens are actively involved in the process of European integration, it proposes creating the conditions for bringing the people of Europe together and increasing the sense of European identity. The aim of this programme is to encourage cooperation between citizens and their organisations from different countries so that they can meet and act together in a European environment which respects their diversity. "Culture 2000" Programme

The aim of the Culture 2000 programme, which combines the old "Raphal", "Kaleidoscope" and "Ariane" programmes, is to develop a common cultural area by promoting cultural dialogue, knowledge of the history, creation and dissemination of culture, the mobility of artists and their works, European cultural heritage, new forms of cultural expression and the socio-economic role of culture. "Culture 2000" supports transnational cooperation projects which involve cooperation between creative artists, cultural operators and the cultural institutions of the countries participating in the programme. This programme is replaced by the Culture 2007 programme .

ACT Decision No 508/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 February 2000 establishing the Culture 2000 programme [ See amending acts ]. SUMMARY For the European Union, the first framework programme in support of culture is an opportunity to implement a new approach to Community cultural action, enabling it to respond to today's challenges and to meet the aspirations of both the European public and the cultural sector itself. The in-depth consultations undertaken by the Commission as part of the preparation of the framework programme clarified the role of culture in meeting the great challenges now facing the European Union. A broad consensus emerged between the Member States, Members of Parliament, the Commission, international organisations (Council of Europe, UNESCO) and cultural organisations that the concept of culture also covers popular culture, mass-produced culture and everyday culture. It is for the above reasons that culture is closely associated with the responses that are needed to meet major contemporary challenges, such as the acceleration of European integration, globalisation, the information society, employment and social cohesion. Since the Treaty on European Union was signed, the Community has taken a number of initiatives, through which it has:

shown that, apart from its achievements in the economic and monetary fields, the European project extends to the entirety of European society and must involve European citizens to a greater extent; started to integrate the cultural dimension into those of its decisions which have an impact on culture; implemented the first three programmes encouraging cultural cooperation in the arts (Kaleidoscope), literature (Ariane) and heritage (Raphael); helped develop relations between culture, the culture industries and employment, on the basis of the Commission's work showing the importance of cultural activities in society and the potential for job creation that they represent.

The Culture 2000 programme The Culture 2000 programme is a single programming and financing instrument for Community measures in the field of culture for the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2006.

The Culture 2000 programme enhances the cultural area common to Europeans by promoting cooperation between creative artists, cultural operators and the cultural institutions of the Member States. It therefore furthers the promotion of creativity, the transnational dissemination of culture, the movement of creators, other cultural operators and professionals and their works. Culture 2000 emphasises the role of culture as an economic factor and as a factor in social integration and citizenship. The Culture 2000 programme furthers a linkage with measures implemented under other Community policies which have cultural implications. The programme's objectives are achieved by the following actions:

specific innovative and/or experimental actions involving operators from at least three participating countries. These actions aim mainly to encourage the emergence and spread of new forms of cultural expression, improve access to culture, in particular for young people and the underprivileged, and promote live broadcasting of cultural events using the new technologies of the information society; integrated actions covered by structured, multiannual cultural cooperation agreements. These agreements are between cultural operators from at least five participating countries and their aim is to create, within a period of up to three years, structured cultural actions which help to achieve an objective of cultural interest which has been set in advance. The cooperation agreements relate either to enhancing a cultural field or to integrating several cultural sectors; special cultural events with a European and/or international dimension. These events must be substantial in scale and scope and must help to increase the sense of belonging to the same community (such as the "European Capital of Culture" initiative).

The funding for the implementation of the Culture 2000 programme for the period 2000-2006 is set at EUR 236.5 million. The annual appropriations will be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limit set by the financial perspective. This budget is broken down as follows:

a maximum of 45% for specific innovative and/or experimental actions; a minimum of 35% for integrated actions; 10% for special cultural events; 10% for other expenditure.

The Commission is responsible for implementing the Culture 2000 programme, assisted by an advisory committee. Member States may use Commission financial assistance to open cultural contact points ( CCPs ) on a voluntary basis. These are responsible for promoting the programme, facilitating access to it and encouraging participation, and also for providing an efficient link with the various institutions providing aid to the cultural sector in the Member States. Operators from 30 European countries are currently participating in the "Culture 2000" Programme: the 25 Member States of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom), the three countries of the European Economic Area (EEA - Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and the candidate countries (Bulgaria and Romania). By 31 December 2005 at the latest, the Commission will present to the European Parliament and the Council a detailed assessment of the results obtained by the "Culture 2000" Programme. This will allow Parliament and the Council to consider the proposal for a new framework programme, announced for 2004 and planned to start in 2007. The Commission will regularly determine the priorities needed to implement the programme. European Capital of Culture

The "European Capital of Culture" event gives European cities the opportunity to present a cultural programme lasting around a year, highlighting the richness, diversity and shared characteristics of Europe's cultures. Over the past twenty years, the event has been very successful in terms of media response and the associated cultural and socioeconomic development of the cities concerned. However, the procedure for choosing the cities needed to be improved. This Decision therefore amends the procedure, making it more effective and highlighting the event's European dimension.

ACT Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019 [Official Journal L 304 of 3.11.2006]. SUMMARY This Decision aims to make the procedure for designating the European capital of culture more effective. The previous system had a number of shortcomings, which the Commission proposed to improve. They concern in particular:

competition between cities; the role of the selection panel; the question of monitoring; the European dimension.

Purpose of this proposal To remedy these shortcomings, the Decision encourages greater competition at national level between the cities participating in the selection, a change in the composition and role of the selection panel, and the introduction of a monitoring phase between the designation of the city and the start of the event. The focus is on the importance of the European dimension in the programmes put forward by the candidate cities. This Decision replaces a decision which had already amended, from 2005, the procedure for the selection of cities, now known as "European Capitals of Culture" (ECCs). The previous Decision remains in force, however, as regards the cities designated as European Capitals of Culture for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Date of application and transitional period The new designation procedure will last for a period of six years as from 2007. It will be applied for cities which will bear the title from 2013. However, a transitional period, during which the designated cities (according to the current procedure) will be subject to monitoring, is planned for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012. Third countries will no longer be eligible, from 2011. As provided for in amendment 649/2005/EC to Decision 1419/1999/EC, from 2009 there will be two ECCs per year, one from the EU-15 and the other from one of the 'new' Member States, on the basis of a list annexed to the document. The cultural programme and its European dimension Each candidate file will include a cultural programme with a European dimension which must be based on the cultural cooperation objectives in Article 151 of the EC Treaty. The programme must meet a certain number of criteria, divided into two categories:

"the European dimension", which consists of stepping up cooperation between cultural operators at all levels. The programme must also highlight the richness of Europe's cultural diversity and the shared aspects of European cultures; "the city and citizens", with the aim of arousing citizens' interest and facilitating the long-term cultural development of the city.

The programme normally lasts for one year. The Commission will be able to reward the quality of the programme presented by the granting of an award to the city concerned, financed by the " Culture " programme. The selection process The process for selecting the European Capital of Culture comprises four stages:

submission of applications: the Member States concerned publish a call for applicants no later than six years before the event in question is due to begin. Interested cities have ten months from this date to present their application; preselection: no later than five years before the start of the event, the selection panel meets to examine the proposals and draw up a shortlist of eligible cities. This panel comprises thirteen experts, of whom seven are appointed for three years by the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and the Committee of the Regions. The other six members are chosen by each Member State concerned, so as to ensure a balance between local and national interests and the European dimension; final selection: nine months after the first selection meeting, the panel meets again to examine the programmes of the shortlisted cities, which will have been fleshed out in more detail, and to recommend one of them as the ECC. At this stage, the panel presents a report to the Member State concerned and to the Commission in which it also makes recommendations to the chosen city, subject to its designation as the ECC by the Council; designation: four years before the start of the event, each Member State, in the light of the panel's recommendations, presents the application of one city to the institutions. The Council, taking into account the opinion of the European Parliament and the reports from the panel, officially designates two cities as European Capitals of Culture.

The monitoring phase Experts appointed by the institutions help the chosen capitals to implement their programmes, in particular by guaranteeing their European added value. Mid-term monitoring; this takes place two years before the start of the event and relates to the progress made in the preparation and the European dimension. Final monitoring: no later than six months before the event, the experts take stock and evaluate the preparatory work. They send a final monitoring report to the Commission, the cities and the Member States concerned. Context The European City of Culture event was launched by the Council of Ministers on 13 June 1985 and has become one of the EU's most popular actions. Because of the high level of citizen participation and its cultural and socioeconomic impact, a growing number of cities compete every year for the title. The procedure for designating the ECC has thus been amended in order to make it more effective and adapt it to the needs of an enlarged EU. Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency

This Commission Decision establishes the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency. It sets out the Agency's role in the management of Community programmes and the conditions under which the Agency has to operate.

ACT Decision 2005/56/CE of 14 January 2005 setting up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency for the management of Community action in the fields of education, audiovisual and culture in application of Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003 [ See amending acts ]. SUMMARY In accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 58/2003, the Commission set up the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency to manage Community action in these fields. The Agency is located in Brussels and has been established for a fixed period running from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2015. Creation of the Agency

The creation of this Agency will allow the Commission to focus on its priority activities and functions, without relinquishing control or responsibility for activities managed by the Agency. The Agency's task is to implement programmes which require a high level of technical and financial expertise but do not entail political decision-making. The setting up of the Agency does not affect either the delegation by the Council to the Commission of the management of certain phases of action under the different programmes or the delegation of management tasks to national agencies. Objectives and tasks The Agency is hereby entrusted with the management of certain strands of the following Community programmes:

the second phase of the Community action programme in the field of education " Socrates "; the second phase of the Community action programme in the area of vocational training " Leonardo da Vinci "; the " Youth " (2000-2006) and " Youth in Action " (2007-2013) Community action programmes; the " Culture " (2000-2006 and 2007-2013 ) programmes; projects eligible for funding under the agreements between the European Community and the United States of America renewing the programme of cooperation in higher education and vocational education and training ( 2001-2005 and 2006-2013 ); projects eligible for funding under the agreement between the European Community and the Government of Canada renewing a cooperation programme in higher education and training ( 2000-2005 and 2006-2013); the programme to encourage the development, distribution and promotion of European audiovisual works ( MEDIA Plus - Development, Distribution and Promotion) (2001-2006); the training programme for professionals of the European audiovisual programme industry ( MEDIA-Training 2001-2006 ); the Media 2007 programme of support for the European audiovisual sector; the Multiannual programme (2004-2006) for the effective integration of information and communication technologies in education and training systems in Europe(" eLearning "); the Community action programme to promote active European citizenship (civic participation); the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of youth ; the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level and support specific activities in the field of education and training ; the Community action programme to promote bodies active at European level in the field of culture; the programme for the enhancement of quality in higher education and the promotion of intercultural understanding through cooperation with third countries ( Erasmus Mundus 2004-2008 ); the action programme in the field of lifelong learning ( 2007-2013 ); the " Europe for Citizens " programme to promote active European citizenship (2007-2013); projects in the field of higher education and youth which could be funded under the provisions of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) (20072013); projects in the field of higher education which could be funded under: the provisions on assistance to the partner States of Eastern Europe and Central Asia ; the provisions on assistance for Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ; the 9th European Development Fund ; the provisions on aid for economic cooperation with developing countries in Asia; the European Neighbourhood & Partnership Instrument (ENPI); the Development Cooperation and Economic Cooperation Instrument ( DCECI ).

In connection with these programmes, the Agency is more specifically responsible for:

managing, throughout their duration, the projects entrusted to it in the context of implementation of Community programmes; adopting the instruments of budget implementation for revenue and expenditure and carrying out some or all of the operations necessary for the management of the Community programmes, including those linked to the award of grants and contracts; gathering, analysing and passing on to the Commission all the information needed to guide the implementation of the Community programme; implementing the Eurydice network for the collection, analysis and dissemination of information and the production of studies and publications.

The Agency may also carry out similar tasks in the fields listed above. The Commission Decision delegating authority will then be adapted to take account of the addition of these tasks. Structure, grants and supervision The Agency is managed by a Steering Committee and a Director appointed by the Commission. The members of the Steering Committee are appointed for two years, and the Director for four years. The Agency receives a grant entered in the general budget of the European Union and financing from the European Development Fund. It implements its operating budget in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1653/2004. The Commission supervises the Agency, which must report regularly on the implementation of the programmes for which it is responsible. European agenda for culture in a globalizing world

The Commission proposes a new EU agenda for culture, which attempts to respond to the challenges of globalisation. This new European strategy for culture aims to intensify cultural cooperation in the European Union (EU). It centres around a series of concrete proposals to achieve a set of common objectives.

ACT Communication from the Commission of 10 May 2007 to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a European agenda for culture in a globalizing world [COM(2007) 242 final- Not published in the Official Journal]. SUMMARY The cultural sector plays a key role in terms of its numerous social, economic and political implications. Culture has always been a fundamental part of the process of European integration. On the basis of these considerations and in the light of the results of the online consultation of stakeholders in the cultural sector, the Commission has proposed a new European agenda for culture focused on a limited number of objectives, and has suggested new mechanisms for cooperation with and among Member States, other levels of governance and civil society. The objectives of the new agenda for culture are built around three priorities: Cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue Openness and exchanges between different cultures should be promoted. Accordingly, the new European agenda for culture seeks to encourage:

mobility of artists and workers in the cultural sector and the circulation of all forms of artistic expression; strengthening intercultural competences and intercultural dialogue, by developing the capacities included among the key competences for lifelong learning such as cultural awareness and expression, and communication in foreign languages.

Stimulating creativity within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy for growth and jobs Cultural industries contribute to the dynamism of the European economy and to EU competitiveness. By way of example, the cultural sector employs nearly five million people in the EU. In this respect, the Commission proposes the following objectives:

promoting creativity in education and incorporating this dimension into the lifelong learning measures; strengthening the organisational capacities of the cultural sector, by focusing on entrepreneurship and the training of the cultural sector in managerial competences (innovative sources of financing, European dimension of commercial activities, etc.); developing effective partnerships between the cultural sector and other sectors (ICTs, research, tourism, social partners, etc.) to reinforce the impact of investments in culture.

Culture as a vital element in international relations In line with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, ratified by all the Member States and by the EU, the new agenda for culture proposes to reinforce the cultural dimension as a vital element of EU external relations. This priority is accompanied by a number of measures to:

pursue the political dialogue in the field of culture and promote cultural exchanges between the EU and third countries; promote access to global markets for cultural goods and services from developing countries through agreements that grant preferential treatment or traderelated assistance measures; build on external relations to set up financial and technical support (preservation of cultural heritage, promotion of cultural activities across the world); ensure that all projects funded by the EU take account of local culture; step up EU involvement in the work of international organisations active in the field of culture, and in the United Nations ' Alliance of Civilisations ' process.

The Commission seeks to establish a structured dialogue with the cultural sector to achieve these objectives. This dialogue would include all stakeholders, from each artist and creator to cultural industries. The Commission recommends to this end:

identifying all actors in the cultural sector; organising a "Cultural Forum" that brings together all these stakeholders; representing at European level the views of stakeholders in this sector (cultural ambassadors, setting up an on-line virtual European forum of artistic expression); developing the social dialogue for the social partners in the cultural sector; bringing a cultural dimension to European public debates by using, in particular, the permanent representations of the Commission.

This new strategy for culture and all the measures proposed depend on closer cooperation between the Member States and the EU through the open method of coordination (OMC) mechanism. It also aims to develop a structured dialogue with the cultural sector. The new European agenda for culture will be complemented by other actions related to the cultural sector, the next being the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue in 2008 . Background The cultural sector has already been the subject of several Community actions to promote culture such as the current Culture Programme (2007-2013) , the " Europe for Citizens " programme (2007-2013), and the MEDIA programme.