“The strength of our region lies in cooperation. When we stand together in support of our cultures, languages, creative freedom and cultural heritage, we are stronger in times of crisis and rapid technological change,” said Estonian Minister of Culture Heidy Purga. “The discussions at the meeting were substantive and practical, addressing issues that are highly important to our countries and cultures,” the Minister of Culture added.
The first session focused on creative freedom, artificial intelligence and the future competitiveness of the cultural sector. The ministers noted that countries with shared values and common challenges can strengthen their position by working together on issues related to the development of artificial intelligence.
“For Estonia, the continuity of our language and culture is very important. We must ensure that our languages and cultures do not fade away as artificial intelligence develops. At the same time, new technological solutions must respect the rights of creators,” said Purga.
The second session of the meeting focused on the digital and long-term preservation of cultural heritage. The ministers agreed that cooperation among the Nordic countries, the Baltic states and Ukraine in safeguarding cultural heritage is of strategic importance. At the same time, it was acknowledged that it is not possible to preserve everything and that each country must decide which parts of its cultural heritage are most valuable and should be prioritised for preservation. The security dimension was also highlighted.
In addition, the Ministers of Culture, whose responsibilities also include sport, discussed ways to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from returning to international sport. Discussions on the implementation of various measures will continue, and the next meeting of EU Sports Ministers will take place on 20 November. The participants also agreed to exchange experiences on cooperation with national Olympic committees and sports organisations. Estonia and Denmark will continue their bilateral discussions on this issue.
At the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of the Nordic countries, the Baltic states and Ukraine adopted a joint declaration on culture, artificial intelligence and cross-border cooperation.
It was agreed to:
- strengthen cooperation in safeguarding culture and cultural heritage so that cultural life and collective memory are preserved also during crises and war, including through digital preservation;
- jointly uphold creative freedom and the rights of creators, including respect for copyright;
- deepen the sharing of knowledge and experience in the fields of artificial intelligence, culture and cultural heritage.
The meeting was attended by 12 delegations: Estonia, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Åland and the Nordic Council of Ministers.
