Atzinuma faktu lapa 

 Call for a strategic, global and integrated approach for EU international cultural relations in order to advance cultural cooperation with partner countries and make Europe a stronger global actor;
 Support the proposed guiding principles and strands for action at EU, MS, local and regional level to fully use the potential of cultural relations as a way to
o support culture as an engine for sustainable social and economic development;
o promote culture and intercultural dialogue for peaceful inter-community relations;
o reinforce cooperation on cultural heritage.
 Recall the core elements from CoR former opinions (especially the Opinion on Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe ) that have been echoed in the Joint communication;
 Add further elements relevant from LRAs' perspective in order to develop LRAs' involvement in the implementation and (re)design of the proposed strategy.

On the occasion of the EYCS Council meeting on 22 November 2016, ministers discussed how the EU and its member states can cooperate effectively to bring about a more strategic and global approach in international cultural relations. The debate was guided by the five main principles for EU action outlined in the joint communication "Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations". The main outcomes from the debate were the following (some also reflected in the CoR draft Opinion):
– Reinforce links with UNESCO and Council of Europe (para. 7 in the CoR draft Opinion);
– Address cultural issues in Foreign Affairs ministers meetings
– Establish clear priorities in external cultural relations (para. 5 in the CoR draft Opinion);
– Highlight the economic and symbolic value of heritage (para. 18-22 in the CoR draft Opinion);
– Promote the mobility of artists (para. 17 in the CoR draft Opinion);
– Development of tourism as a means for the preservation of cultural sites and for benefit of the local populations (para. 25 in the CoR draft Opinion);
– Establish partnerships with third countries (para. 6 and 25 in the CoR draft Opinion);
– Enhance cross-sectoral cooperation at local and regional level, involving civil society (especially para. 11 in the CoR draft Opinion).
The Commission also argued in favour of stronger cooperation in cultural diplomacy and agreed that the EU is a “soft power”.

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

- welcomes the Joint Communication "Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations" and the actions it contains and stresses that culture must lie at the heart of the EU's international relations;

- stresses that cultural diversity is an integral part of the EU's values and that the EU is firmly committed to promoting an international order based on peace, the rule of law, freedom of expression, mutual understanding and respect for fundamental rights;

- as a key partner of the United Nations (UN), the EU should continue to cooperate closely with UNESCO to protect the world's cultural heritage;

- underlines that local and regional authorities have important remits in promoting intercultural dialogue, as many intercultural initiatives are coordinated at local and/or regional level;

- the proposed EU strategy on international cultural relations needs to be targeted and thus to include provisions for specific objectives and a clear implementation deadline for its various policies;

- calls on the European Commission to prioritise the further development of cultural diplomacy with a view to introducing it into the EU's foreign policy;

- considers that there is an urgent need to step up cultural activities aimed at promoting better knowledge of artistic and cultural expression and of the cultural heritage that exists in Europe.