Conference “The sound of Europe”
Salzburg, 28 January 2006

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Introduction

First of all, I would like to thank Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, President of
the Council of the European Union, very much for his invitation to this
conference. I also congratulate the Austrian Presidency as a whole for
organising such a high profile event at a moment when our continent has many
doubts about itself and the way forward. Clearly, commemoration of the great
artist and humanist Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is deeply inspiring also in our
times.
A few months ago, the French and the Dutch voted ‘No’ to the Treaty
establishing a Constitution for Europe. There is significant presence of
euroscepticism around.
Against such a background, nobody can deny that it is high time for us – with
the help of all layers of society – to think about the real meaning of this unique
European evolution that began almost half a century ago. In 1955 the great
Austrian statesman Leopold Figl’ said: “Es ist unsere Verantwortung weiter zu
arbeiten, so dass auch zukünftige Generationen sagen können, Europa ist frei.”
I am personally profoundly convinced that culture has quite a lot to bring to this
process.

A long way has been covered

In the past 50 years, we have come a long way towards building Europe:

• We have ensured that Europe is firmly rooted in essential values: freedom,
  democracy, equity, and solidarity;
  – We have integrated important policy domains for the common good;
  – We have achieved that the Union becomes more “European” with its recent
  enlargements;
  – Above all, the Union has given us the longest period of peace and prosperity
  in the history of its members – and it reaches out to share this achievement
  with future members, and the world at large.
  These are achievements we should not forget. They have changed the lives of
  our citizens. They present a model to the world.
  However, let us not take all this for granted. As I said in my introductory words,
  these are not easy times for the European Union and for its Member states.
  We must now tackle our problems urgently and invent bold replies to new
  challenges. To use the vocabulary of contemporary art, the European Union is
  not a still life painting, it is a living entity. It requires political courage, tenacity,
  but also flexibility, the recognition of the need to change, and the common will
  to succeed.
  
  What culture can do for Europe in this context
• 
  One of the areas requiring change is the relationship between the Union and its
  citizens. Margot Wallström already presented to you yesterday the considerable
  efforts deployed by the European Commission to re-launch the debate with
  citizens and to place the citizens back at the centre of the agenda.
• 
  This is quite clearly a very complex issue that goes beyond better informing
  citizens and more fully about what is at stake.
• 
  Over the years we have developed and fine tuned sophisticated tools to meet our
  objectives. Today we run the risk of focusing too much on the working methods
  we have developed and as a result we tend to forget the focus of our
  deliberations. We risk that these instruments become an end in themselves.
• 
  What we urgently need is to win the hearts of our citizens and to give them the
  sense of belonging and of ownership of the European Union.
• 
  I am very proud that many of the areas for which I am responsible – education,
  training, culture, youth, citizenship, sport – are crucial tools in that respect as
  they address human beings in their professional, cultural and civil capacity.
  Culture – in particular – provides citizens with the unique opportunity to directly
  and emotionally experience Europe in their personal lives. Participation,
  personal experience – these are powerful ingredients for communicating the
  sense of Europe, especially to our younger generation. In this context, culture
  and the arts are necessities, not a luxury. Without them we risk having an
  imbalance between the rational and the emotional aspects of European affairs.
  And this imbalance could well be a reason for the distance between Europe and
  its citizens.
  
  Culture offers a refreshing way of looking at reality. It involves all our senses.
  It provokes; it stirs controversy and it arouses passions. Art and culture are the
  best antidotes to a purely functional view of the European Union and the world
  at large. They place men and women at the centre.
• 
  But I should level a word of caution in this respect: In spite of our multiple and
  whole hearted efforts to find a solution to the increasing disenchantment of our
  citizens with the conduct of European affairs and the fact that an increasing
  number of citizens feel excluded from this process, we will not find a “one size
  fits all” solution. We are only at the beginning of building a common European
  Agora, a common European space as a precondition for the emergence of a
  European identity which complements local, regional and national loyalties.
• 
  These considerations are the cornerstone of the Commission’s proposals for the
  new generation of programmes for education and training, for culture, for youth,
  for citizenship. I am happy to see their positive reception by Ministers and
  Parliament. I now plead for your support so that they can really play the role
  they deserve.
• 
  Importance of cultural diversity for cultural identity in Europe
• 
  The essence of Europe is to be united in its diversity, in its political, social,
  religious and cultural dimensions. Cultural diversity is one of Europe’s defining
  characteristics and also one of its greatest assets. The European Union is
  committed to preserving and promoting that diversity.
  Cultural diversity should be viewed as an asset, rather than a source of
  confrontation. With this in mind, we must bring to the fore those intangible
  forces that bind all of us together.
  
  More than ever before, acting together as Europeans requires an effort to
  understand each other better, to identify common interests, and to combat the
  fear of diversity. A new sense of confidence in Europe is needed.
• 
  We are here talking about our multiple identities as citizens of our respective
  countries and citizens of the Union, our sense of tolerance and curiosity towards
  others, our commitment to preserve and enrich the cultural features and values
  that we hold dear. We must develop a unifying bond in a more and more
  functional and indifferent society.
• 
  Although cultural diversity has been a reality since the dawn of human
  civilisation, it is only rather recently that the concept has begun to be built into
  policy-making in Europe.
• 
  Each individual EU Member State is responsible for its own cultural policies.
  Nevertheless, the EU does have a role to play in raising awareness of our
  common European heritage, in promoting the diversity and richness of European
  cultures and in increasing openness towards other cultures.
• 
  What the EU seeks to promote and preserve within the Union internally, it also
  promotes on the international stage.
  In this context, it took actively part in the negotiations on the UNESCO
  Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
  Expressions which were brought to a successful conclusion last October. The
  Commission is strongly committed to the prompt ratification of the Convention
  by the European Community. I also firmly encourage the EU Member States as
  well as third countries to follow suit.
• 
  Building on this consensus on cultural diversity, we now have to put emphasis
  on intercultural dialogue, both inside the EU and with third countries, in
  particular in the European and Mediterranean neighbourhood. Culture is a
  harbour sheltering many identities as well as an instrument stimulating mutual
  trust and respect in a troubled world. This conviction has led me to propose to
  my Commission colleagues that 2008 be proclaimed the European Year of
  Intercultural Dialogue. They have endorsed my proposal, and I am confident
  that the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament will do so as well.
  The European Year will be a unique awareness-raising tool, mobilising public
  authorities, civil society organisations and individual citizens, representing the
  whole spectrum of ethnic, religious and other groups in our society.
• 
  Close
• 
  Culture is not a panacea for political crises. It cannot be the sole motor of
  integration. Nor is that its role. However, at this moment in time, when we, as
  Europeans are seeking an identity that complements and transcends regional and
  national ties, seeking common values and a unifying bond, it would be a fatal
  error not to exploit and mobilise the power of Europe’s cultures.
• 
  Culture cannot be imposed from Brussels. Our role is to facilitate, to promote, to
  raise awareness and to act as a platform for the exchange of information and
  experience.
• 
  There is a moral obligation for the EU to take up its share of the challenge by
  developing a policy of active support for cultural activities at the EU level. But
  we also need the active involvement of all stakeholders: not only the cultural
  players, but also national, regional or municipal authorities.
• 
  In other words, in order to make this process work we need to establish trust.
  This trust cannot be imposed by a legal act, it must be earned – from all sides
  and this takes time.