“Recent years have shown that culture is not a secondary issue alongside security, but an integral part of security itself. Ukraine’s experience demonstrates that protecting cultural heritage, memory and identity helps societies remain resilient even under the most difficult circumstances. At the same time, in a rapidly changing world, we must ensure that artificial intelligence supports creativity and cultural diversity rather than diminishing them,” said Minister of Culture Heidy Purga.
The meeting will focus on joint efforts to support Ukraine and uphold the principles of international sport. Participants will also exchange experiences and discuss ways to strengthen cooperation with Ukraine and other countries in the region in protecting and developing culture.
The programme also includes a discussion with ministers responsible for sport, aimed at finding ways to prevent Russian and Belarusian athletes from returning to international sport. Estonia, together with its partner countries, has already proposed to the European Commissioner that the relevant sports organisations be excluded from EU funding. The participants will now also discuss the possibility of competing under neutral status, without national symbols, as well as potential visa restrictions. The discussion is expected to continue in November at the official meeting of EU sports ministers.
In addition to the various discussion sessions, presentations over the course of the two-day meeting will be given by Indrek Ibrus, Professor of Media Innovation at Tallinn University’s Baltic Film, Media and Arts School (BFM); Merilin Piipuu, Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture; Marie Elisabeth Berg Christensen, a researcher at the Department of Arts and Cultural Studies at the University of Copenhagen; and Yuliia Khlystun, a Ukrainian cultural historian living in Estonia.
The Tallinn meeting is being held as part of Estonia’s NB8 Presidency, in cooperation with Denmark and the Faroe Islands, which currently hold the respective presidencies of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Delegations from 12 countries are taking part in the meeting.
