A3-0156/94

Resolution on cultural relations between the European Union and Latin America

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Robles Piquer on Community measures in favour of mutual understanding between Latin America and Europe, B3-0498/89,

-having regard to the Commission Communication on Guidelines for the strengthening of relations between the Community and Latin America (COM(84)0105),

-having regard to the conclusions of the Council of 22 June 1987 on relations between the EEC and Latin America,

-having regard to the Commission Communication on guidelines for cooperation with the developing countries in Latin America and Asia (COM(90)0176),

-having regard to Council Regulation No 443/92 of 25 February 1992 on financial and technical assistance to, and economic cooperation with, the developing countries in Asia and Latin America,

-having regard to the Final Act of the First EEC - Rio Group Ministerial Meeting in April 1991,

-having regard to the Final Act of the Second EEC - Rio Group Ministerial Meeting in May 1992,

-having regard to the Final Act of the Third EEC - Rio Group Ministerial meeting in April 1993,

-having regard to the Final Act of the 11th EEC - Latin America Interparliamentary Conference in May 1993,

-having delegated the power of decision to its Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media, pursuant to Rule 52 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education and the Media (A3-0156/94),

A.whereas a wide range of specific realities are converging in Europe and Latin America,

B.whereas the major changes which Latin America has been going through in recent years, especially with the adherence to democratic principles, growing respect for human rights, the opening up of the Latin American economies to the world market and the endeavours of some countries in the direction of regional integration,

C.mindful of the efforts made both by the EU and by the Latin American countries to strengthen relations between the two regions, especially in the commercial and industrial spheres and in scientific and technical cooperation and professional training,

D.whereas there is an area of common culture between the EU and Latin America, in spite of economic and social differences,

E.whereas until quite recently cultural cooperation between the EU and Latin America has been pursued almost exclusively on a bilateral basis in view of the absence of legal and financial instruments,

F.whereas at present most of the cooperation agreements concluded with the countries concerned contain a cultural clause,

G.whereas, however, such cultural clauses are extremely vague and confined in many cases to mere declarations of intent,

H.having regard to the increasing demand from the Latin American countries for cooperation with the EU in the sphere of culture and education,

I.whereas the need to develop cultural relations between the two regions has been stressed both at the EEC - Rio Group Ministerial Meeting and at the EEC - Latin America Interparliamentary Conferences,

J.having regard to the major political and economic difficulties which most of the Latin American countries are going through, and especially to those parts of the population most directly affected by the consequences thereof,

K.having regard to the positive repercussions which cultural cooperation with Latin America may have in terms of political stability and economic and social development in that region, as well as extending the culture of democracy to promote peace, non-violence, respect for human rights and tolerance,

L.having regard to the mutual enrichment which both the EU and Latin America may derive from cultural cooperation,

M.having regard to the ethnic and cultural diversity of Latin America, in which native, European and African cultures coexist in certain regions,

N.whereas Articles 126(3), 127(3) and 128(3) of the EC Treaty state, amongst other things, that the European Union and the Member States shall foster cooperation with third countries in the field of education, vocational training and culture respectively,

O.whereas the Union's budgetary appropriations assigned to cooperation with third countries in the field of culture and education are clearly inadequate, particularly bearing in mind the provisions of the Treaty on European Union in this area,

P.whereas the various Community delegations set up in some of the countries concerned are also playing an important role in the field of cultural cooperation,

Q.having regard to the increasingly close links between cultural policies and training, youth and education policies,

1.Welcomes the inclusion in the association agreements with the countries of Latin America of clauses on culture and education, and calls for special efforts to be made to continue substantial progress on cooperation in these fields, providing the funds necessary for their implementation;

2.Considers it essential that, in order to accomplish such cultural cooperation, the Community and its various delegations in those countries should cooperate closely with the European cultural institutions already established in the region and with the cultural offices of the Member States' embassies therein;

3.Considers that the Union will need to take careful account of the political and economic difficulties of the Latin American countries and that, in view of the shortage of funds for cultural cooperation, it will also need to give priority, in cooperation with the governments of the countries concerned, to measures directed at those sections of the population hit hardest by economic, social, cultural and educational deprivation, such as the native peoples, women and the young;

Culture

4.Proposes that the following measures be promoted:

(a)strengthening contacts between artists, writers and intellectuals in Europe and Latin America, and implementing a system of scholarships and exchanges for young artists,

(b)stepping up the publishing and translation of European writers in Latin America and vice versa,

(c)stepping up inter-library cooperation between Latin America and Europe and facilitating access to archives for researchers,

(d)developing cultural tourism which respects both the environment and indigenous cultures;

Architectural and cultural heritage

5.Calls for symbolic measures to be taken to protect, restore and conserve the architectural and cultural heritage, and to encourage the exchange and training of restoration and conservation experts;

6.Calls for the encouragement of cooperation between museums in the two regions, so as to facilitate the reciprocal temporary exchange of works of art for exhibitions, seminars and conferences;

Town twinning

7.Calls for the Commission to encourage twinning between Community and Latin American towns, particularly between those which bear the same name as a result of historical relations whose profound significance should be explored;

Information

8.Calls on the Commission to step up the information policy already under way through the delegations in Latin America, putting special emphasis on the process of Community integration towards European Union and the results and advantages of this process for Latin America;

9.Proposes the creation of 'Casas de Europa' in Latin American countries and the creation of European departments in Latin American universities and cultural institutions;

Audiovisual sector

10.Draws attention to the fundamental role played by the audiovisual and communication media in promoting culture, training and free and responsible information, whilst encouraging the participation of civil society in the development of democracy, peace and respect for human rights;

11.Calls for support for the Latin American media, particularly in the form of exchanges between journalists and media professionals and the joint creation and exchange of programmes, co-production of films and extension to the Latin American countries of the European Euronews channel;

Education and universities

12.Calls for interinstitutional cooperation to be stepped up between EU and Latin American universities and for closer relations between business and university sectors in both regions, and for a larger number of scholarships to be granted to Latin American students attending universities in the Member States;

13.Calls on the Commission to submit as soon as possible a draft exchange programme for university students and teaching staff with Latin America, the Columbus programme, in the field of higher education and scientific research;

14.Stresses the fundamental role played by the 'Coimbra Group' in the field of university education and research in both regions, and calls on the Commission to continue its close collaboration with and support for the activities undertaken by this university network;

15.Suggests extending the 'Jean Monnet Chair' to Latin American universities particularly interested in offering teaching courses on the Community;

16.Calls for special efforts to be made in the field of mutual recognition of diplomas, particularly those gained at Latin American universities;

17.Emphasizes the importance of encouraging the teaching of Spanish and Portuguese in the Community's schools and, by the same token, of Community languages in Latin America, to enhance understanding and the dialogue between the two regions;

Training

18.Calls for the measures already under way to be continued and stepped up, and for special stress to be laid on continuing education and adult education and on training in such vital areas as environmental protection, health, AIDS, etc.;

Youth

19.Calls for the measures already undertaken by the Community, to step up exchanges and mobility for young people in both regions to be continued and consolidated and for cooperation with European and Latin American youth organizations with the common objective of tackling the needs of young people to be supported and increased;

20.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the countries of Latin America.