Work in the EU

The EU and culture

Action by the EU is to contribute to the development of culture and to promote cooperation between Member States. Where necessary, the EU is to support and complement actions taken by Member States concerning the dissemination of knowledge about the culture and history of the European peoples, the conservation and protection of European cultural heritage, and artistic creation.

For the period 2008-2010, the EU culture ministers agreed on a special agenda for culture. This has three priority areas:

• Promoting cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue
• Promoting culture as a key driver for creativity, within the framework of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs
• Promoting culture as an important component of the Union's international relations

In addition, a working plan has been produced which means that a number of expert groups have been appointed within the framework of what is known as the open method of coordination. The group working on culture and education is particularly important for Sweden.

The Culture Programme

Ongoing EU activities in the field of culture are dominated by the Culture Programmes. The previous Culture 2000 programme took place between 2000 and 2006. It has been succeeded by the Culture Programme, which will run from 2007 to 2013. Like the previous programme, it will support joint cultural projects between several European countries. The Culture Programme aims to promote cultural creativity, increase the mobility of artists and create favourable conditions for the dissemination of their work. The EU also distributes financial support from the Structural Funds to culture-related projects and to the management of the agricultural landscape in Sweden. In addition, support is provided for natural and cultural assets in the reindeer husbandry areas.

Cultural Contact Point Sweden

Cultural Contact Point Sweden (CCP Sweden) is the information office for EU cultural issues. It provides information on, and assists in the implementation of the EUs culture support programmes. Under an agreement with the European Commission, the National Heritage Board and the Swedish Arts Council are the government agencies responsible for CCP Sweden. The National Heritage Board is responsible for cultural heritage issues and the Swedish Arts Council for the arts and cultural activities.

The European Year of Creativity and Innovation

The year 2009 was designated as the European Year of Creativity and Innovation. The objective of the Year was to help the EU increase its capacity for creativity and new ideas, both from a social and an economic perspective. The Year was given a cross-sectoral perspective and included, apart from culture and education, policy areas such as entrepreneurship, social and regional policy and rural development.

The European Programmes/Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems were the Swedish contact points for the Year.

The EU and media issues

The MEDIA Programme ("mesures pour encourager le développement de l'industrie audiovisuelle" - measures to promote the development of the audiovisual industry) has existed since 1991. It is designed to complement national action and provides support for the European audiovisual industry in order to reinforce its competitiveness and increase the circulation of European works. The current programme, MEDIA 2007, covers the period 2007-2013. It includes support for training for professionals, the development, distribution and marketing of European audiovisual works, as well as pilot projects and cross-sectoral initiatives. Information on the programme is provided by MEDIA Desk Sweden at the Swedish Film Institute. MEDIA Desk Sweden is part-financed by the Commission.

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (previously the Television without Frontiers Directive)

Since 1987, television has been regulated by an internal market directive intended to facilitate cross-border television broadcasts. It contains rules about which Member State is to regulate a TV broadcast as well as minimum rules on broadcast content. The Directive contains rules on European programme content, advertising and sponsorship, the protection of minors and the right of reply. A modernised version of the Directive entered into force in December 2007 and the name was changed from Television without Frontiers to the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The modernisation means, among other things, that new on-demand television services are included.

The new rules include requirements concerning the identification of broadcasts and rules for the design of advertising, sponsorship and product placement. A new rule about rights to short news footage from events of major public interest has been introduced. The rules on interruptions that apply to TV broadcasts have been liberalised, but in the case of films, news programmes and children's programmes only one advertising break is allowed per period of 30 minutes. No interruptions are permitted to children's programmes that are up to a half an hour. Completely new rules have been introduced on the responsibility of Member States for gradually making all broadcasts accessible for people with disabilities. The Member States have an obligation to cooperate bilaterally in cases where a Member State has problems with a broadcast that does not comply with an important national regulation and the broadcast originates from another Member State.

The EU and sports

In the EU a number of cooperation projects are also underway in the area of sports. At the informal ministerial meetings for sports, Sweden is represented by the Minister for Culture who is also Minister for Sport. The purpose of these meetings is not to make decisions but to provide a forum for discussion and the exchange of experience in relation to both current and long-term issues. EU sports ministers normally meet once or twice a year at the invitation of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union.