Role of culture as vector for reforms assessed at Eastern Partnership Ministerial Conference on Culture

Source of picture: WG4, culture sub-group

On 27-28 June the EaP Ministerial Conference on Culture was held in Tbilisi with the participation of Androulla Vassiliu, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. In addition to government officials, representatives of different cultural organisation, civil society and media participated in the event. The EaP CSF was represented by delegates of the culture sub-group of Working Group 4 “Contacts between People”.

The conference was opened jointly by the Minister of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia Guram Odisharia and the Commissioner. Within the framework of the ministerial conference, three sessions were held:

Culture as a vector of political reforms and social development
Culture as a vector of economic growth and working places
Instruments of the European Union and international cooperation – future prospects

The aim of the meeting was to provide an opportunity to assess the impact of the EAP Culture programme, to underline the need for reform in cultural policies, to improve inter-Ministerial cooperation in the cultural sphere as well as to take better account of the contribution of culture to growth and stability in the region. The ministerial conference represents an important stage in the process of outlining the significance of culture within the EaP and to promote the understanding of the role of culture for sustainable development and for closer cooperation with the EU.

back to Forum News