As part of the “Sound of Europe” conference, State Secretary Franz Morak met the EU Commissioner for Culture Ján Figel' for talks this morning, in order to discuss the main cultural topics of the Austrian Presidency and to agree on the road map for the future.
“Art and culture play a key role in the European unification process. We want to put this firmly on the agenda”, stressed Messrs Morak and Figel'. Austria is seeking to establish good cooperation with the EU Commission, in order to make purposeful and rapid progress, underlined Mr Morak. “In particular, the CULTURE 2007 programme to promote culture and the Culture Capital of Europe are central instruments with which to demonstrate the European added value for artists. Therefore, it will be especially important to make the corresponding budgetary funds available,” Franz Morak said during the talks with Commissioner Ján Figel'. Mr Morak presented the cultural framework programme and invited the Commissioner to the “Identität und Hülle” (“Clothing and Identity”) fashion event in the Hofburg on 16 May, which fashion designers from all 25 Member States will present. Furthermore, Commissioner Figel' will be the keynote speaker at the seminar “Content as a competition factor”, which Austria is organising for 2 and 3 March under the Presidency. Mr Figel' will deliver the keynote address on “More content through more providers”.
On the initiative of the European Commission, a small exhibition featuring loaned works of art from all Member States was set up at the head office of the Commission. EU Commissioner Figel' and State Secretary Morak will open the exhibition together during the Culture and Audiovisual Council on 18 May.
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