Thursday, 12.11.09,  17:30-19:00

The European Union first began as an economic project and has developed into a political community with basic shared principles of democracy, rule of law, human and (certain) social rights. Although there is a long history of cultural cooperation, firm cultural policies have remained in the domain of national governments with only a limited mention in the legal bases of the EU.

With the introduction of the European Agenda for Culture, a possible future European cultural policy has started to take shape. This Agenda is being developed and is still rather general in its aims.

As Culture is not part of the aquis communnitaire, the accession process does not require any institutional or other reforms (except for some rules regarding the audio-visual and media sector). Furthermore, the political boundaries in South East Europe do not mirror the cultural cooperation taking place in the region. Rigid political definitions applied in any of the EU cultural policies could be a threat for the existing cultural collaboration that occurs beyond the political divisions in this region.

Is the Agenda, at least indirectly, considered in the EU’s enlargement policies? What are the experiences considering these political processes of a candidate country (Croatia, for instance)? What are the expectations, needs and recommendations coming from the ground, from daily work of cultural operators in South East Europe?

Moderator: Ilona Kish (Culture Action Europe, Secretary General / Brussels)

Speakers: Nina Obuljen (Croatian Ministry of Culture, State Secretary / Zagreb), Helena Drnovšek-Zorko (Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Division for International Cultural Relations / Ljubljana), Wenceslas de Lobkowicz (DG ELARG, Inter-cultural Dialogue and Cultural Heritage, Adviser – Civil society / Brussels), Emina Višnić (Zagreb Centre for Independent Culture and Youth, Director & Clubture Network, Board Member / Zagreb)