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Culture is a Sound Investment for Europe Interview with José Manuel Durão Barroso President of the European Commission
Opening ceremony European Capital of Culture Guimarães
25th Anniversary of the accession of Portugal to EU, Lisbon, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, June 2010
José Manuel Durão Barroso (1956) has been President of the European Commission for more than seven years. Exclusively for this Portugal Special , the former Prime Minister of Portugal takes some moments out of his busy schedule to sit down and talk about the future of Europe and the role of cultural heritage.
When you took office in 2004, you were the first President of the European Commission who started his mandate by putting a strong emphasis on the role which should be given to culture within the wider context of the building of Europe (cf. your speech at the first Berlin Conference ‘A Soul for Europe’ held in November 2004). Can you recall the ‘cultural vision’ which you expressed at that time? I continue to be deeply convinced that culture, including cultural heritage, is at the heart of the European project. It is more important than ever to promote among our citizens a good understanding of our various cultures, as Europe is increasingly becoming an intercultural melting pot of people from different backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles. In these difficult times, it is essential that we do not lose sight of our shared cultural values,
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as Europeans, and I believe culture can play a role in contributing to our common well-being. Culture offers an insight into today’s diverse societies and shows us what can be achieved when people meet and inspire each other. As well as having a core or intrinsic value, culture also contributes to the development of a more cohesive society and to the creation of millions of jobs in a more economically sustainable Europe. This is why the questions of what Europe can do for culture, and what culture can do for Europe, have not lost their relevance in the current climate. has generated up to 10 euros from Today, when Europe is confronted with an unprecedented economic and financial crisis, do you still keep the same faith in our culture and our heritage being Europe’s key resource? Speaking about EU’s Cultural Agenda, what would you like your Commission to achieve by the end of your second term as the EC’s President? I fully understand that decisionmakers have to take tough budgetary decisions in order to improve their economic performance. Culture, the arts and heritage are often the first to suffer when times are hard. But I believe it is counter-productive and shortsighted to target culture. Culture produces many positive spill-over effects for other businesses and for society as a whole. It also strengthens social and territorial cohesion. For example, European Capitals of Culture such as Lille, Liverpool or Essen have successfully invested in culture to create jobs and transform areas which were badly in need of a facelift; in some cases it is estimated that every euro of public funding invested in the Capitals
tourism and business expansion. Furthermore, culture drives creativity and innovation: artists greatly contribute to society not only by being creative, but also by inspiring others to be creative. Together with Commissioner Vassiliou, I am determined to make the strongest possible case for our new ‘Creative Europe’ programme, which aims to increase the firepower of our cultural and creative sectors as drivers of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. These sectors and their related industries are a key part of our exit strategy from the crisis. In a nutshell: spending on culture is not a luxury, but a sound investment. Europa Nostra welcomes the new Article 3(3) which was introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon. Do you think that this gives renewed legitimacy and opportunity for more resolute EU action in favour of culture and heritage, in line with your own political commitment, as expressed in your Berlin speech in 2004 ?
Never before have culture and cultural heritage been dealt with so prominently in an EU Treaty as in the Treaty of Lisbon. Article 3(3) states that “The Union shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, and shall ensure that Europe’s cultural heritage is safeguarded and enhanced.” Therefore, since the entry into force of the Treaty in 2009, the European Union is encouraged to promote these principles more actively. And it does, through its support for the current Culture and MEDIA programmes – which will be integrated into the new ‘Creative Europe’ programme from 2014 – and also through its active implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the promotion and protection of the diversity of cultural expressions. Cultural heritage indeed constitutes for Europe today an important resource for achieving the Europe 2020 objectives, in terms of job creation and also in terms of contribution to a sustainable and inclusive economy and society in Europe. Yet,
Signature of the Treaty of Lisbon, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, December 2007
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Europa Nostra finds that this is still not always duly recognised by EU decision-makers. Why is this so? What can we do to improve this situation? You, the EU Institutions, and we, the civil society organisations in Europe? As I just said, we have to convince decision-makers all over Europe that cultural heritage is important and contributes to the development of a more sustainable society and cohesive Union. As preservation of cultural heritage is our shared responsibility, one of our crucial challenges is to win the support of all actors: decisionmakers, citizens, regional and local authorities, businesses and the civil society sector. In addition, we have to address specific challenges at European level. For example, we need more robust and comparable data if we want to assess the social and economic impact of culture in the
José Manuel Durão Barroso
European Union. Such knowledge is important at all levels of governance to develop effective cultural policies and invest Europe’s capital in an efficient way.
favourite heritage places in your own country, Portugal, but also elsewhere in Europe, which in your view symbolize the soul, the spirit and the idea of Europe.
In addition to contributing to the Europe 2020 objectives, our cultural heritage has a fundamental value for our society, and in particular for our quality of life and sense of identity, belonging and community for citizens. What is the importance which you attach to cultural heritage in your own professional and personal life?
I could name many places, but I feel it is too early, at this stage in the development of the European Heritage Label, to share my personal views on potential sites. But as we speak about heritage and Portugal, I’m happy to see that the recently restored majestic organs of the Basilica of Mafra are among the winners of the 2012 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards.
If we want to embrace the future and deliver more sustainable growth, we need to understand our past and use our assets in the field of culture effectively. Our heritage helps us understand our histories and the ancestry that links us together. In this sense it reaffirms how we think about ourselves and it helps us to have a clearer vision of our shared identity. Cultural heritage is the link with our past: by really understanding, protecting and promoting our past we can better shape our future together. Europa Nostra welcomes the recent launch of an important EU programme related to heritage - the European Heritage Label. Can you share with us some of your
Next year, Europa Nostra will be celebrating its golden jubilee, 50 years of continuous action to raise the profile of cultural heritage in Europe. We very much hope that you will be able to be our special guest at the European Heritage Awards ceremony which will take place at the Herodian Theatre at the foot of the Acropolis, on 14th June 2013. What special message would you like to pass to Europa Nostra and its large membership from all over Europe, on the occasion of our forthcoming jubilee? Thank you very much for the invitation! I encourage Europa Nostra to continue to work with the same professionalism and deep commitment to cultural heritage that I have witnessed over the years. This collective energy coming from your members, who are working day after day to protect, restore, research, educate and communicate about our joint European heritage at local, regional and national level is a unique asset. It inspires us all to make our own contribution.