Wednesday June 3 2009 / Europe
The Cultural Ambition of Europe
The importance of national and cultural identity is more and more emphasized in the European Union. Culture is the soul of Europe and can, as a strategic factor, contribute to the development of Europe on a local, regional and (inter)national level. Since the EU, as Steve Austen puts in his book The European Cultural Ambition, prescribes binding rules for almost all fields of social life, there is only one way to distinguish yourself as a nation, namely by culture.
The key to the success of the EU is partly dependent on the dialogue between different cultures. Especially since the financial crisis has disrupted social life severely, it is of great importance that nations don't shut themselves off from each other and protect their national culture and identity against ‘strange' influences. Instead, it is essential to stimulate a cultural dialogue between citizens of the different member states.
What role does culture play in the European election programme? Why do the cultural component of the unification process and the role of civil rights play such a marginal role in the campaigns of the European parliament? These questions will be discussed by Stephan Sanders (columnist and author), Hedy d'Ancona (former member of the European Parliament) and Steve Austen (Permanent Fellow Felix Meritis, co-initiator of A Soul for Europe). Moderator: René Gude (director ISVW).
The Cultural Ambition of Europe - 3 June 2009
Verslag 'De culturele ambitie van Europa'
Op de website van NRC Handelsblad staat het verslag van dit debat.
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