Horizon 2020 — Cultural heritage
29.2.2012
Question for written answer E-002343/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Chrysoula Paliadeli (S&D)
The new EU programme for research and innovation (Eighth Framework Programme — Horizon 2020), to run from 2014 to 2020 with a budget of EUR 80 billion, aims to create growth and new jobs in Europe. The relevant Commission proposal, however, does not include any reference to cultural and natural heritage, which means that they are likely to be excluded completely from future EU funding and related tenders.
Given the current economic crisis, the significance of cultural heritage in terms of the EU’s total GDP (with a turnover of EUR 338 billion a year from tourism, the contribution amounts to 3.3 % of Europe’s GDP), the efforts to reinforce social cohesion and European identity and also the obligation to protect European heritage under Article 3(3) of the Treaty of Lisbon, the European Union has an absolute obligation to support this sector, through special European programmes.
In view of this:
- 1.Why did the Commission proposal for the Horizon 2020 programme not include provisions for research and innovation in the cultural and natural heritage sector?
- 2.How will the European Union guarantee the necessary funds for research and innovation in the cultural and natural heritage sector and step up European research into the Protection of European Cultural Heritage?
- 3.How does it intend to stimulate EU investment and step up the employment in the cultural heritage sector?
OJ C 111 E, 18/04/2013