Finland stepping up cultural cooperation between EU and Russia
The Ministry of Education will arrange an expert meeting on cultural cooperation between the European Union and Russia on 18 and 19 September 2006 as part of the Finnish EU Presidency programme. The purpose of the meeting is to launch the implementation of the Culture Road Map adopted by the EU and Russia in May 2005.
The meeting will be opened by Ms Tanja Saarela, Finnish Minister of Culture, Mr Aleksander Sokolov, Russian Minister of Culture and Mass Communication, Ms Odile Quintin, Director General, D.G. Education and Culture, and Mr John Penny, Principal Administrator, D.G. External Relations. The opening session will also be addressed by Ms Paula Lehtomäki, Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, who will speak on interaction between culture and the economy. Some 160 cultural and foreign relations experts from the EU countries, Russia and regional intergovernmental organisations are expected to attend the meeting.
In 2003 the European Union and Russia agreed on a new Four Common Spaces policy. It is implemented on the basis of Road Maps adopted at the Moscow Summit on 10 May 2005. Finland has taken initiative to raise culture alongside other sectors in the European Union's Russia policy.
Finland has gained experience of bilateral cultural cooperation with Russia through the Finnish-Russian Cultural Forum and is trusted as a bridge builder. The seventh Cultural Forum will be held in Kajaani at the same time as the Expert Meeting.
In Kajaani, cultural experts will share experiences and views of artistic and cultural projects, cooperation in the field of cultural heritage, cooperation between art universities and institutions, and the promotion of cinematographic works and audiovisual programmes, all of which are listed in the Road Map. The second day will focus on exploring how different regional cultural bodies could, as part of their own operations, implement a EU-Russia cultural cooperation programme, the preparation of which will depend on the results of the Kajaani meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to produce materials for the preparation of the first cooperation action plan for EU-Russia cooperation.
For additional information:
- Ms Maija Lummepuro, Counsellor for Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Education, tel. +358 (0)9 160 77292
- Media: Ms Pia Ekqvist, Press Officer, Ministry of Education, tel. +358 (0)9 160 77404