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Resolution 2117 (2016)
Promoting city-to-city co-operation in the field of culture
1. The Parliamentary Assembly considers
that cities have a key role to play in Europe, not least through their
co-operation in the field of culture. Within nations, this process
assists democracy, as it also increases the well-being and stability
of regions and localities. Between cities, cultural and working
synergies represent a further dimension, one which can clearly build
upon existing foundations, such as those recognised by the Europe
Prize of the Parliamentary Assembly.
2. Such initiatives include economic activities. The more cities
or different centres have direct trade and financial dealings with
one another, the more likely it is that both culture and the quality
of life will be improved in each place as a result. The term “city-to-city
co-operation in the field of culture” thus covers a wide area embracing
many aspects of daily life. These comprise economic and financial
activities, the contentment of people and families, their education
and the variety of their aspirations and opportunities. Working
synergies between cities address those aims and produce valuable
results, promoting culture, education, apprenticeship and employment.
3. Governments and institutions are advised not to be prescriptive
or to interfere; this would stifle and undermine the creative energies
of cities. Yet, on the other hand, they need to guide cities on
how to proceed, if they wish to do so, on how and why good practice
is built up, not only within cities but also within nations, and on
how restricted budgets and economic downturns need neither impede
nor totally prevent action.
4. The Assembly also notes the opportunity for re-energising
national democracy at grass-roots levels. This opportunity is offered
by city-to-city co-operation in the field of culture. An emphasis
on democratic values at the local level does not upstage or threaten
those values at the national level. On the contrary, such an emphasis
helps to restore trust and confidence in European governments and
democratic values. And because working synergies occur at local
levels between different cities in different countries, it will
be all the easier for their endeavours to help support a much healthier
political focus in 21st-century Europe.
5. The Assembly therefore recommends that the Council of Europe
member States:
5.1. work with national
associations of local authorities to support new city-to-city co-operation
models in order to develop better strategies for financing, pooling
information and sharing expertise;
5.2. encourage initiatives which establish cultural connections
between small and medium-sized cities across borders;
5.3. create conditions for schools and other educational institutions
to seek and form international partnerships in the field of culture
and to support children from less privileged families and neighbourhoods
to enable them to participate in activities undertaken within such
international partnerships.
6. The Assembly recommends that European cities and European
organisations of local authorities:
6.1. review bilateral and multilateral municipal relationships,
seeking to: renew commitments and redefine objectives; bring in
new and younger people for the management of co-operation activities; explore
more sustainable ways of financing these activities; and involve
a wide range of partners, including cultural and educational associations,
artists and other cultural stakeholders, media, chambers of commerce
and the private sector;
6.2. develop local strategies for cultural heritage which take
into account the principles laid down in the Council of Europe Framework
Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (CETS No. 199,
“Faro Convention”) and adopt supporting methods for promoting city-to-city
co-operation, taking note of best practice to date and of successful
measures from the Council of Europe Intercultural Cities Programme;
6.3. mobilise competent local associations which have already
established international relationships with other European cities
to share their experience and know-how with relevant parties, particularly those
in less privileged neighbourhoods, so that international co-operation
becomes more inclusive;
6.4. invite local media to cover city-to-city co-operation,
by employing techniques developed in the Council of Europe/European
Union SPARDA (Shaping Perceptions and Attitudes to Realise Diversity Advantage)
project;
6.5. develop stronger arguments, based on proper evidence,
in order to improve national campaigns in favour of city-to-city
co-operation.
7. The Assembly pays tribute to the important role played by
the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of
Europe and encourages it to continue to promote co-operation in
addressing the challenges facing the cultural and democratic life
of cities. For its part, the Assembly resolves to continue to promote
such co-operation, notably in the framework of the attribution of
the four awards which make up the Europe Prize.
8. The Assembly invites the European Union, in partnership with
the Council of Europe and the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and in co-operation with European
and international city networks and associations, to promote the
value of city-to-city co-operation in the field of culture and democracy.
To this end, partners should disseminate examples of good practice
to assist cities in developing city-to-city co-operation activities,
taking account of principles laid down in the Faro Convention and in
Committee of Ministers Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)1 on intercultural
integration, and of the pioneering best practice of the Intercultural
Cities programme.
9. The Assembly also invites the European Union to consider whether
existing funding programmes (INTERREG, URBACT, Creative Europe,
etc.) might be reviewed in order to strengthen connections between them
so that the funded projects could serve as best-practice examples
for other European cities.