CAE has published the following statement on July 7, 2017:
A sustainable future can be achieved with a fundamental cultural change
In this crucial moment when the Agenda 2030 is being adapted to the European dimension, Culture Action Europe:
- Praises the forward-looking vision of the European Parliament (EP), the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), which have recognised the fundamental role of culture in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Welcomes the recognition of the Parliament and the EESC of the role of culture in external relations and development policy. - Endorses the Parliament’s call for proper support for cultural institutions and organisations in delivering on the SDGs.
- Strongly supports the Parliament’s call to make culture an integral part of the Commission’s action for sustainability. Welcomes the recognition of the role of culture in promoting economic development, job creation, wellbeing, promoting democracy, social justice and solidarity, fostering cohesion, fighting social exclusion, poverty and generational and demographic disparities. Therefore, joins the Parliament in stressing the urgent need to mainstream culture in the objectives, definitions, tools and evaluation criteria of the Commission’s SDG strategy.
- Reiterates its disappointment with the European Commission’s Communication on the next steps for a sustainable European future as it represents a missed opportunity to recognise the fundamental role of culture in driving sustainable development. Yet, acknowledges that the Staff working document accompanying the Communication represents a first approach to develop European action in the field of culture and sustainability.
- Stresses the need to perform a sound gap analysis that takes culture into consideration in the second working strand developing the EU’s long-term vision and the focus of sectoral policies after 2020.
Remains concerned about the lack of recognition, on the part of the Council, of culture as a key driver for the EU response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: a sustainable European future can only be reached with a full understanding and meaningful use of the cultural forces that underpin change. - Calls therefore to include innovative and forward looking cultural indicators in the next revision of the Indicators for monitoring the SDGs in an EU context. CAE stands ready to gather evidence and support the European institutions in this process.
The cultural sector has joined forces to raise awareness of the critical importance of culture to the Sustainable Development Goals. Together with our partners on European and international level and civil society organisations in neighbouring fields, CAE will continue to advocate for a sustainable future that includes culture and will monitor and communicate relevant developments in this field.
Culture Action Europe works to promote a better understanding of the interdependence between culture, including notably through the international campaign The future we want includes culture (2012).