Subject: ECA comment on

Towards an international instrument on cultural diversity – Position paper of the Commission of the European Communities COM(2003)520 final

 

The European Council of Artists (ECA), representing multidisciplinary artists' councils from 24 European countries, is a committed member of the International Network for Cultural Diversity (INCD). ECA has contributed to the development of an international instrument on cultural diversity within INCD.

 

The INCD draft of this new instrument expresses the need to integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the preservation and enhancement of cultural diversity into relevant economic, international trade, social and environmental policies and programs.

 

As correctly quoted in the Commission document COM(2003)520final the Culture Ministers on the occasion of their Thessaloniki meeting in May 2003 pointed out that the new instrument should take into account the preparation already done by the International Network of Cultural Policy (INCP), which had closely co-operated with INCD. The Culture Ministers then stated: The basic international forum for cultural policies cannot be the WTO.

 

In the UNESCO Secretariat document of 12 March 2003 on the objectives of the new instrument the demands to respect the individual rights of creators and artists and facilitate the circulation of individuals, goods, services and knowledge linked to cultural acticity while preserving stable areas of identity and creativity are included. Furthermore: Such an instrument should also ensure that each State is free to define its cultural policies, its co-operartion agreements and its partnership initiatives in a global world.

 

ECA welcomes the Commission’s recognition of cultural diversity as a major issue of the international debate. In the light of all the documents quoted above reflecting the conviction that such an instrument on cultural diversity signed by the national states will have to include trade regulations, if it wants to be more than lip-service, ECA rejects the attempts of the Commission to safeguard that such instrument would not affect and be without prejudice to the international legal framework applicable to exchanges of cultural good and services.

 

In his June speech at a network meeting on cultural diversity in Brussels ECA president Jorge Bosso remarked: Cultural diversity is still a meaningful concept, a possible tool for safeguarding artistic production and services. But there is the great danger of misusing the term as an air bubble, while irreversible decisions are made. We are definitely standing at the crossroads. The European Commission does not want to accept the obvious reality that cultural and artistic diversity can only survive without constantly being threatened by competition law infringement or similar WTO regulations. In this context ECA refers to the respective section in the INCD draft:

 

Supporting Cultural Diversity

8.      Each Party undertakes to provide, in accordance with its capabilities, financial support and incentives in respect of activities which will achieve the objectives of this Convention.  These measures may include, but are not limited to: procurement practices; the provision of subsidies and grants; or the granting of any advantage, favour, privilege or immunity, including tariff and/or tax preferences.

9.      These financial supports and incentives may be allocated in a manner which accords special, preferential, or more favourable treatment to indigenous, or national forms of cultural expression where the Party considers that such measures will support or achieve the objectives of this Convention.

10.  Such financial supports and incentives may be provided directly or indirectly to individuals, institutions, state enterprises, associations, non-governmental organizations or cultural enterprises.

11.  The developed country Parties may also provide, and developing country Parties avail themselves of, financial resources related to the implementation of this Convention through bilateral, regional and other multilateral channels.

12.  The Parties shall take full account of the specific needs and special situation of less developed countries in their actions with regard to funding the international exchange of cultural goods and services.

 

Only an instrument on cultural diversity that includes the economical side of the problem can find the support of the European Council of Artists. ECA asks the culture ministers to aim at their governments’ insistence on such a comprehensive convention on cultural diversity.

 

Jorge Bosso

President