EU Policy Areas

Cultural Policy

An increased cultural awareness among the Member States has led to a specific competence for the EU in the field of culture. The legal basis of the EU’s cultural action states that “the Community shall contribute 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.”

Since the beginning of the year 2000, the EU has aimed to apply a new approach to its cultural policy through the Culture 2000 framework programme. The main objectives are to encourage the creation of a common cultural area and to promote cooperation between actors in this field. The EU is also committed to having a regard for cultural actions and objectives in the execution of all its policies. Activities and projects concerned with culture have received funding from a variety of sources other than the culture budget lines.

The Commission has estimated that over 95% of funding for cultural projects across Europe has come principally from the Structural Funds and not from the culture budget. It should also be noted that Liverpool will be the European Capital of Culture 2008.