In Brussels today, Minister of Culture Tõnis Lukas is participating in a meeting of the European Union’s Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council. The main topic under discussion will be sustainable development and the important role played by culture therein.
Among other things, a decision will be approved in the field of culture that deals with the role of culture in achieving the goals of sustainable development. The action plan for sustainable development until the year 2030 was already approved by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, and this is reflected in the development objectives of the European Union. However, a more comprehensive interstate approach to the role of culture in achieving these goals has been lacking.
‘The states agree that culture helps to improve wellbeing and achieve cohesion in society,’ said Minister of Culture Tõnis Lukas. ‘Now we must take the next step. We must find solutions from the creative economy and digital solutions. Cultural heritage that is in good order and its use are part of a sustainable economy. All this must be recorded in the development documents of the European Union,’ Lukas added.
The ministerial policy debate will focus on the potential of the audiovisual field and creative sector under conditions of global competition. Minister of Culture Lukas will also introduce the plans of Tartu, the future 2024 European Capital of Culture. In addition, a decision will be made in the sport field on the fight against corruption in sport and the consequences related to the protection of children in sport. A political discussion will also take place among the ministers regarding issues of good governance in sport.
The ministers who are responsible for the cultural, audiovisual and sport sectors in the European Union meet twice a year, in the spring and autumn.