09 July 2013

We Are More. Advocacy group calls for increase attention on the upcoming Creative Europe

source: www.wearemore.eu

It's not the first time that CreativeCH's engage with the petition and manifestos that come from the world of culture. Last month, Europeana's #AllezCulture campaing was promoted in this website, a campaign which aims to draw attention on the upcoming issues related to EU budget cuts.

Today we would like to draw your attention on the We Are More campaign, which draws a light on the Creative Europe upcoming framework as a whole.

Given the difficult economical and financial circumstance, We Are More is asking for a smarter and more efficient allocation of funds and grants throughout the upcoming Creative Europe programme. Not a financial deluge, thus, but a re-allocation of savings and a reduction of administratives costs.

The objectives of the EU Regional Policy focus on social, economic and territorial cohesion, and that it is not a tool designed to directly support culture. However, culture can and does greatly contribute to social, economic and territorial cohesion. 

Culture-based initiatives have proven to stimulate economic growth and contribute to the knowledge-based economy by fostering innovation and supporting the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises. Culture develops creativity, which is key for innovation.

Launched by the advocacy and lobby organisation Culture Action Europe last month, the We Are More manifesto advocate national and European decision makers, asking to strengthen the recognition of the role of arts and culture in the development of European societies, by increasing the support to culture in the next EU budget.

Below, the full We Are More statement released in June.

In the framework of budgetary reductions proposed by the Council on 8 February and their application to the Heading 3 budget (Citizenship, Justice, Culture, Health, Security and more), outsourced agencies and other costs for administration amount to more than 3.67 billion Euro and represent more than 23% of the total amount dedicated to that heading. In comparison to most policy funding, these costs for administration are proportionally less affected by the EC adjustments, after the Council’s decision.

In times of austerity and transition, the EU must do more, better and with less money. Therefore, priority should be given to policy objectives, programmes and project investments. This is especially true in the fields providing great added value for European citizens, as the cultural arena – innovation, arts, education, citizenship – most clearly does.

We therefore call on policy makers engaged in the Trilogue impacting the multiannual financial framework for 2014-2020 to do all that is necessary to reduce the costs for administration and re-allocate the savings to programmes and policies, with Creative Europe as priority.

Investing in culture, arts, education and research not only generates growth and jobs; it fosters both freedom of expression, flexibility and creative solutions. A focus on culture leads to sustainable development, cohesion and well-being. These are the value fields that enhance Europe’s capacity to rally to the challenges posed by the current period of transition furthering innovation and prosperity. This is where our tightly monitored tax resources should be spent.

If you want to undersign the manifesto, you can fill the form which you'll find in the We Are More homepage.

Stefano Sbarbati