The EU has a number of programmes and other forms of support for work with culture and the cultural heritage. The aim of many of these is to increase employment and promote economic development through cultural tourism. This means, among other things, support to preserve the cultural heritage and bring it to life.

The National Heritage Board monitors the cultural heritage sphere in the EU. The Board keeps track of the Structural Fund programmes and Community Initiatives concerned with the cultural heritage and cultural tourism. The significance of the programmes and initiatives for regional development is also assessed.

The Structural Funds are intended to level out economic and social differences between different regions within the European Union. They account for the majority of the EU funding allocated to the Swedish cultural sector. Several of the spheres to which efforts are devoted directly affect the cultural heritage.

The structural funds finance in turn the four Community Initiatives for cross-border cooperation within the EU, serving as a complement to the Union's structural policy. Their purpose is to solve specific problems common to more than one region or member state. The Community Initiative for Rural Development (LEADER+) has points of contact with the preservation of natural and cultural values.

In the EU there are also a number of Framework Programmes linked to cultural heritage management: The Sixth Framework Programme for Research and Development, MEDICI - the network for multimedia and culture, and Culture 2000 - support for artistic and cultural activity with a European dimension.

The EU and development aid

The EU is the world´s largest giver of aid and together with the member states stands for 55 percent of global development work. In 2005, the European Community launched a new policy document for development aid work. The Commission´s document is intended to complement member countries - development aid policies. It describes the objectives of EU collaborative development work, focuses specifically on poverty, and is directed towards achieving the Millennium Goals. It also highlights a number of prioritised areas for development-related collaborative work, such as health, education, culture and equality, and democracy and human rights.

Contact:

Karin Altenberg

See also:
European Commission