13
Dec
2022
Watch
Implementation of the New European Agenda for Culture and the EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, Minister, allow me to thank the rapporteur, Mrs Adinolfi, and other colleagues for this initiative report, which makes it clear that the European Parliament supports culture and sees it as a very important, indispensable part of our lives. As we report, culture helps to improve mental health, culture helps to improve educational outcomes. We were able to appreciate, together with Minister Balash last week, how culture unites. The European Parliament, seven hundred participants in the conference on the European Year of Youth, applauded the musical performance of the pupils of elementary art schools standing up. Culture is united. Already during COVID-19, the European Parliament called for Member States to invest at least 2% in culture from their investment plan. And I am glad that the Czech Republic is among the 16 countries that will actually invest more than 2%. The European Union does not have to govern culture. Culture needs freedom and support. However, the European Union must protect its cultural roots and safeguard its cultural heritage. That is why we have a cohesion policy, that is why we have a Creative Europe, and that is why we also have a European cultural heritage label, and I believe that we will continue to develop them together.