More support needed for SMEs in creative and cultural sector 25-05-2007 On 24 May, the European Ministers of Culture adopted 'Conclusions on the
contribution the cultural and creative sector makes towards implementing the
goals of the Lisbon Strategy'. In the conclusions, the important contribution of
the creative and cultural industries in pursuing the goal of an innovative
knowledge economy is explicitly acknowledged. Given their economic importance
for the European economy, the Council calls for more European support for small
and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the creative and cultural sector.
Minister of State Bernd Neumann, at whose initiative the conclusions were
drawn up during Germany’s EU Council Presidency, said: “These conclusions will
create a clear political framework and focal points for the future work of the
European Member States and the Council in the area of the cultural industries.
Just a few months after initiating the debate at the last Council of November
2006, we have managed to begin paving the way for policy-making in the field of
the cultural industries.”
The debate on strategies aimed at promoting the creative and cultural
industries more effectively has steadily gained momentum at European and
national level in recent months. The special role the cultural industries play
for Europe’s global competitiveness is being increasingly recognised. “The
creative and cultural sector offers above average opportunities for Europe
especially regarding economic growth, competitiveness, the creation of jobs,
sustainable development and innovation. The creative and cultural sector
represents a growth sector that is developing more rapidly than any other
industry. The most important aspects of the Council conclusions therefore relate
to promoting SMEs more effectively in the cultural sector as they play a key
role in tapping economic potential in the cultural sector”, Mr Neumann
explained.
Other demands made in the conclusions involve integrating business aspects
more effectively during the training and advanced training of persons engaged in
the cultural sector and making more effective use of the existing structures,
programmes and initiatives at European level in order to promote the cultural
industries. The Member States and the Commission are being called upon, inter
alia, to help to use the European Cohesion and Structural Funds more efficiently
in support of SMEs in the cultural and creative sector.
Source: German EU Presidency 2007 Files back |
