Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-01-13-Speech-2-356"
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"en.20040113.16.2-356"2
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"Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, when I speak on the subject of cultural diversity, I do not think that my tone will be as optimistic as that of the first few speakers, in particular yours, Commissioner. There are several reasons for this.
The first reason is that, until a very short time ago, this convention, or this international instrument, was nothing more than a Utopian idea. I remember organising, together with my group, a public hearing in the autumn of 2002, in order to launch this idea before Parliament. I believe that we should be modest about this, and I would not say that this idea came from Europe and from the European Union. It came from, among others, countries like Canada, and from countries throughout the world which have established links with certain European countries. Therefore, though I can only applaud the fact that this Utopia is becoming a reality within the European Union, I do think that we should show a little more modesty.
If I call for modesty, it is because I would not like to see this future convention becoming merely the latest in a long line of declarations. We know all about declarations in favour of cultural diversity. We can make them, but then we have to draw up a restrictive and legislative convention which makes it possible to settle differences in a context which is that of the market. I would like to say that cultural diversity is also tied in with the question of the market. We must not disguise the fact that combining cultural diversity and the market represents a considerable difficulty. That is why, on this point too, I am modest and not always optimistic.
The third reason why I am not very optimistic is that I am not sure that we really are an example for others to follow, even if we like to think that we are. Are we really agreed, within the European Union, that we want to promote cultural diversity and, if so, what diversity? I think that if we look at the facts, we shall find it hard to be completely satisfied with ourselves. Mrs Junker has mentioned several problems, as have other Members. I think that we are confronted, right at the heart of Europe and not only outside it, with problems connected with the preservation and promotion of cultural diversity.
I would simply mention the question of the support provided by public State aids, for example, which as you all know is an element which is both provisory and derogatory, and which is in no way laid down in the logic, constitutional or otherwise, of the Treaties. Cultural diversity is therefore a right, but it is a right that we have to construct, and not a simple right to culture, to education and so on. The right to cultural diversity does not yet exist and I only hope that we shall know how to construct it."@en1
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