The EU 2020 Strategy: an opportunity to mainstream culture and creativity in EU policy making

The European Commission has recently launched a consultation on its priorities for the years to come.   The EU 2020 strategy will follow on from the current Lisbon Strategy and will determine policy and investment priorities up until 2020.  It would be a mistake to consider this as a new branding of old policies.  The new vision of EU policy is characterized by the emphasis on more efficient use of energy (for obvious environmental and sustainability reasons) but also the need to address social challenges (notably inclusion and integration). 

 For the European Commission the key drivers of EU policy will be:

-   knowledge through education, research and creative industries, well functioning IP system, digital economy (the European digital agenda);

-  creativity and innovation skills  to empower people  - emphasising the importance of skills , mobility , life long learning , entrepreneurial culture;

-   a competitive and green economy : making better use of resources ,  investing in digital broadband, transport and energy infrastructure, promoting an industrial policy.

  

Whilst investment in culture is not identified per se as a key driver of sustainability, social cohesion and competitivity, representatives of the cultural and creative sectors do indeed recognize the importance of culture in the implementation of the visions spelt out by the European Commission.  Therefore, the time has now come for the cultural and creative sector to get together, get motivated and be ready to act  to show just how it can contribute to economic and social innovation, a more competitive economy, research and better learning.   A decisive demonstration of this kind from the sector should contribute towards the mainstreaming of culture in EU policy making and future investment decisions.

At a time when enterprises and industries are calling on artists to renew their visions, designers to rethink their processes and anthropologists to understand behaviours, it would be extraordinary if EU policy makers did not call on creative resources to get Europe on a sustainable track.

The cultural and creative sectors and their representatives have until the 15^thJanuary to comment on the draft EU 2020 Strategy proposed by the European Commission.

http://ec.europa.eu/eu2020/pdf/eu2020_en.pdf