Retour Celebration of the 60th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention

Egmont Palace, Brussels , 

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

I am very grateful for the chance to speak here today at the Palais d’Egmont on this very special occasion – the sixtieth anniversary of the European Cultural Convention.

Steeped in history and tradition, this beautiful building has over the centuries attracted acclaimed artists, artisans and authors – including Voltaire and Jean-Baptiste Rousseau.

In many ways, Palais d’Egmont embodies our continent’s cultural core but also the beauty, the creativity and the diversity of Europe.

It is this deep-rooted connection between culture and diversity that is so vital for our continent right now.

This is the reason why the Council of Europe’s commitment to the cultural sector has always remained constant.

Founded in 1949 amongst the ash and rubble of post-War Europe, the Council of Europe held firm to the belief that a vibrant cultural foundation and respect for cultural diversity made the prospect of a united and peaceful Europe possible.

This is why, in December 1954, the European Cultural Convention was put into force.

Our organisation’s mission was simple: to bring Europeans together.

To build bridges and understanding.

To build tolerance and respect.

To mould a European identity rooted in common heritage, values and beliefs.

Sixty years to the day since the European Cultural Convention came into existence, we remain committed to the honourable goals of its founding fathers.

The Convention now has 50 signatories, including the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe, Belarus, the Holy See and Kazakhstan

Time and again, the Convention has demonstrated how valuable it can be.

Long before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Convention paved the way for better co-operation and the integration of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe States into the work of the Council of Europe and, ultimately, for their accession to our Organisation.

The Convention has many more achievements to its name.

They are too numerous to list in full right here, but allow me to mention a few of them.

There’s the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

The Charter on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education.

The Council of Europe Art Exhibitions and Heritage Days, which attract thousands of Europeans from all corners of the continent.

But think also of the sports conventions against doping, spectator violence, and most recently, the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions.

And let us not forget all the high-profile events as well as campaigns, such as our ongoing campaign against hate speech.

Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,

All this is impressive.

But we are not here today just to celebrate past achievements.

We have our work cut out for us.

Today, the European Cultural Convention is more important than ever before.

This is especially the case as we face the new, daunting challenges of a globalised society.

Challenges such as new technologies which are redefining our entire life environment.

Challenges such as identity issues and social inclusion.

Challenges such as wide-scale migration and conflicts, some of which are taking place on our home soil and between our own Member States.

At a time when our society faces such new and profound challenges, at a time when so many of us feel insecure in the face of change, culture must remain a vital part of our lives.

A society without the civilising influence of culture can never reach its full potential, nor understand its past and where its future lies.

A few weeks ago, we had the honour of welcoming Pope Francis at the Council of Europe.

In his speech, he stressed the fundamental importance of the cultural dimension in building a democratic Europe and, in particular the importance of Europe’s continuing responsibility to contribute to the cultural development of humanity.

Pope Francis also challenged us by asking whether Europe was still capable of inspiring culture and displaying its treasures to mankind as a whole.

This question struck a nerve with many Europeans both young and old.

This is because it reminded us that when we diminish the role of culture in society we risk falling into Oscar Wilde's well known definition of a cynic: knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

We all appreciate culture’s huge contribution to the economy, growth and employment.

But the importance of culture is about much more than that.

It’s about who we are as individuals.

It is about identity.

It is about freedom of expression.

Culture contributes to social inclusion.

Culture manifests and conveys diversity.

Culture and diversity are vital for us to be able to create tolerant societies and to sculpt sustainable democracies.

That is why those who oppose diversity and democracy target culture.

Without diversity, culture cannot bloom.

Without diversity there can be no democracy.

Over the years, the European Cultural Convention has been the basis for developing solid parameters on questions of identity, managing diversity and intercultural dialogue.

Many of you will remember our White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue, which provides recommendations for the promotion of intercultural dialogue, mutual respect and understanding, based on the core values of our Organisation.

Not to forget our 2011 report on “Living together”, a report that sharpened our understanding of the global nature of 21st Century concerns regarding diversity and freedom.

In the future one of our main challenges will be to strike the right balance between respect for cultural diversity and the construction of a shared European identity - an identity that does not replace the sense of national belonging but adds a new layer to the multiple identities of our citizens.

The search for this balance is the key to securing dignity to everybody within socially cohesive societies.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Perhaps one of the main lessons we have learnt in the sixty years since the European Cultural Convention came into force is that the road to peace passes through education and culture.

Democratic institutions and democratic laws will not work unless they build on democratic culture.

And education plays a key role in developing and maintaining this democratic participative culture.

That is why the Council of Europe is ready to assist our member States in tackling a wide range of issues in this field.

Issues such as how to include competence for democratic culture and intercultural dialogue in curricula.

How to boost transparency and integrity.

As well as how to improve awareness of human rights and citizenship issues in a digital environment.

Seen from this perspective, education does not only serve to prepare citizens for the labour market, it prepares them for life as active citizens in democratic societies.

In a similar vein, the teaching of history and languages have led to successful projects, such as “Shared histories for a Europe without dividing lines”, which helped foster tolerance and respect for diversity.

Looking ahead, Europe will need to constantly re-invent itself to find solutions to global challenges.

Whilst staying true to our continent’s proud cultural heritage, we must also continue renewing it and enriching it.

We must ensure that culture and art are embedded in a larger human rights and democracy context.

The 60th Anniversary of the Convention is a powerful reminder that the human imagination is still the most powerful tool we have in moving forward as a civilization.

In these uncertain times, we will therefore need to look to the creativity of our educators, the energy of our youth and cultural activists, and the passion of our artists and inventors.

We will rely on them to help encourage new thinking and to create new visions for a bright future.

For our part, the Council of Europe will continue to use the European Cultural Convention to inspire our Member States as well as our neighbours to promote active participation in peaceful, democratic and inclusive societies.

The Convention has helped us achieve a lot during the past sixty years.

But there is still a lot of work to be done.

I would like to close by quoting Voltaire, the incisive Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher who was a regular guest here at the Palais d’Egmont.

Voltaire was a strong advocate for civil liberties and freedom of speech.

In his Essay on Tolerance, Voltaire reminded us to, and I quote: “Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too”

In this spirit, let us all do our bit to secure a tolerant, culturally-rich and diverse Europe.

Thank you.