Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. Report on the implementation and relevance of the work plan for culture 2011-2014

Culture and the diversity of cultural expression are among Europe’s greatest strengths. As a source of values, identity and sense of citizenship, culture contributes to citizens’ well-being and to social cohesion and inclusion. It is also a driver for economic growth, job creation and external trade.

In 2007, the European Commission proposed to shape European cooperation on culture around three strategic objectives in the European Agenda for Culture:
- promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue;
- promoting culture as a catalyst for creativity and growth; and
- promoting culture as a vital element in the EU’s external relations.

This Agenda was endorsed by the Council, and its priorities were subsequently reflected in two Council work plans for culture.

In 2010, having come to the conclusion that the Council Work Plan for Culture 2008-2010 constituted a new and important stage in the development of Member State cooperation in the field of culture and had improved the coherence and visibility of European action in the field, the Council adopted the second work plan covering the years 2011-2014.

This report first looks at progress made in implementing the work plan’s six sectorial priority areas through the working methods foreseen by the Council, such as the open method of coordination (OMC). Then, drawing on an independent evaluation that assessed the OMC as a tool for implementing the Agenda for Culture and contributions submitted by EU Member States to a 2014 Commission survey, the report presents the lessons learnt regarding the relevance of the work plan and its instruments. The final chapter makes recommendations for the steps to take regarding the content and working methods of the next Work Plan for Culture beyond 2014.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)535: Follow the progress of this report through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:535:FIN

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