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From Letters Page of 

of Wednesday 9th April 2003
(this article available online, but by subscription only)

PROMOTING EUROPEAN CULTURE

Madam, - Europe has gone a long way down the road of "growing together" over the past 50 years. The painful historical experiences of a nationalism that
led to two world wars and the tense Cold War atmosphere that followed - these spurred us on to make such a journey. The road ahead is not less
daunting than the road we have travelled. We must seize the opportunity - ours since 1989, after all - to make a fragmented Europe whole again.

After the last World War, political ideals profoundly shared by the people gave us an enthusiasm for Europe. Now there is talk of "interests". Now the
people of Europe have lost sight of "Europe". They feel left out. Today, can we say with any certainty that it is still possible to experience a satisfying, politically solid, spontaneous sense of being a European?

Europe has new work to do. It must create those institutions that are needed and be clear which responsibilities are national and which European. It must make possible a sense of belonging to Europe while maintaining the ties that link one to the land of one's birth.

The essence of a consciousness of common European identity is culture. To protect and promote culture is one of the most important tasks in Europe today.

We appeal therefore to the European Convention to give a prominent place to education and culture in the constitutional treaty that it is drafting.
Unity in diversity is the cultural essence of Europe.

A future Europe requires a cultural policy of diversity and affinity, of singularity and commonality, no less deserving of our efforts and our resources than economic and social policies.

That is why we support the efforts of European institutions, civil society organisations, artists and cultural actors who are working to encourage the
EU to:

Yours, etc.,

Back to the top

_________________

Reply to above letter

Published Friday 11th April 2003

Madam, - You give prominence to a round-robin letter (April 9th) from various unemployed presidents, prime ministers and princesses of Europe telling us that "to protect and promote culture is one of the most important tasks in Europe today."

It isn't. It's just one more excuse to skirt around completing the one task that will do most to improve the quality of lives of citizens of the EU.

The EU politicians, bureaucrats, would-bes and has-beens should direct their energies towards removing the remaining protectionist, poverty-creating barriers to the free trade that is the essence and overwhelming success of the EU.

Start with the Common Agricultural Policy, continue with insurance, pharmacology, etc. The list is long, difficult and unglamorous.

But it will do far more good than fluffing around with such things as culture, a constitution, a single foreign policy and so on, which Europe's great and good seem to enjoy so much. - Yours, etc.,

TONY ALLWRIGHT, Killiney, Co Dublin.