The European Commission launched a public consultation on the development of a European Democracy Action Plan (EDAP). On September 14th Culture Action Europe and many other European networks and institutions welcomed the initiative and called the Commission in an open letter to reflect in it especially the status of the freedom of artistic expression as a fundamental aspect of cultural rights. The letter submits the following recommendations to the Commission:
1. Explicitly recognize freedom of expression in all its forms.
2. Develop appropriate instruments at EU level whereby artistic freedom can be monitored and assessed as one of the legitimate indicators of democratic and cultural health.
3. Foresee a facility through which artists can report violations of their fundamental rights and access support for their legal assistance and relocation.
4. Establish an EU mechanism on democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights, including artistic freedom.
Read the complete letter here.