The <link http: www.consilium.europa.eu media external-link-new-window external link in new>European Council conclusions on security and defence, social dimension, education and culture, and climate change were adopted on 14 December 2017.
The key passages relating to culture were:
- "Leaders highlighted the importance of the social, educational and cultural dimension of our policies in bringing Europeans together and building our common future. Under the Treaties, Member States remain primarily responsible for these areas, but much can be achieved by working together, while fully respecting the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality." (p. 2)
- "Education and culture are key to building inclusive and cohesive societies, and to sustaining our competitiveness. In Gothenburg we expressed a willingness to do more in these areas, in which the EU plays an important supplementing and supporting role. As a result, the European Council calls on Member States, the Council and the Commission, in line with their respective competences, to take work forward with a view to: (...) taking the opportunity of the European Year of Cultural Heritage to increase awareness of the social and economic importance of culture and cultural heritage." (p. 3)
Additionally, the European Council invites the Council, European Commission and the Member States to propose measures for digitalisation as well as "an inclusive, lifelong-learning-basedand innovation-driven approach to education and training" and "the legal and financial framework conditions for the development of cultural and creative industries and the mobility of professionals of the cultural sector". (p.4)
The conclusions are a step towards acknowledging and fostering the role of culture for Europe and follow the <link http: www.ne-mo.org news article nc browse nemo nemo-statement-on-european-commissions-communication-strengthening-identity-through-education-and-culture external-link-new-window external link in new>European Commission's Communication on "Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture".
