Cooperation and Policy Dialogue within the framework of strategic bilateral partnerships
Culture is a recognised sector of cooperation with both developing and developed countries. The means and format of cooperation are adapted in light of the specific needs and priorities of our partners. In this respect, development cooperation forms an important part of relations with third countries both in our 'neighbourhood' and in other parts of the world. For the sake of this report, we make a selective presentation of examples of cooperation with different partners. In this part, we highlight strategic bilateral partnerships with diverse policy objectives, cooperation with candidate and potential candidate countries in the enlargement context of the EU and cooperation with European Neighbourhood Policy countries falling under the remit of development cooperation objectives. Cooperation with our developing partners in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific is presented in the following section 2.3 ('Integration of culture in sustainable development strategies').
The EU maintains an ever closer relationship with emerging global partners including China, India, Brazil, Mexico or Russia. Cooperation may take the form of policy dialogue, joint actions or development cooperation.
In each case the EU action is focused on the following elements:
- the presence of cultural provisions in international agreements e.g Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, Association Agreements and long-term strategic programming tools (e.g. Country Strategic Papers or Action Plans)
- the establishment of sustainable policy dialogues on culture (e.g. on the legal and regulatory environment for the emergence of creative industries in those countries). Such policy dialogues on cultural policies, including exchanges on the implementation of the Convention, have been initiated with certain partners who are Parties to the Convention such as Brazil, Mexico and China.
- the use of existing cooperation mechanisms for instance, the "Indian Culture for Development Fund, the EU-Mexico Cultural Fund, or the ENPI ,in the case of Russia, which supports cultural projects. As regards bi-regional cooperation the Commission is a member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and a contributor to the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Both organisations are active in the field of culture and in particular as regards the fostering of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue
The EU maintains an ever closer relationship with emerging global partners including China, India, Brazil, Mexico or Russia. Cooperation may take the form of policy dialogue, joint actions or development cooperation.
In each case the EU action is focused on the following elements:
- the presence of cultural provisions in international agreements e.g Partnership and Cooperation Agreements, Association Agreements and long-term strategic programming tools (e.g. Country Strategic Papers or Action Plans)
- the establishment of sustainable policy dialogues on culture (e.g. on the legal and regulatory environment for the emergence of creative industries in those countries). Such policy dialogues on cultural policies, including exchanges on the implementation of the Convention, have been initiated with certain partners who are Parties to the Convention such as Brazil, Mexico and China.
- the use of existing cooperation mechanisms for instance, the "Indian Culture for Development Fund, the EU-Mexico Cultural Fund, or the ENPI ,in the case of Russia, which supports cultural projects. As regards bi-regional cooperation the Commission is a member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and a contributor to the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Both organisations are active in the field of culture and in particular as regards the fostering of cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue.