Doc. 8960

1 February 2001

Spirit of Europe in museums

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Valk and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The European museum award scheme has now been run for some 25 years under the auspices of the Council of Europe by the independent European Museum Forum.

2.       Each year the Parliamentary Assembly has awarded the Council of Europe Museum Prize as its contribution to the scheme. This award is made to a museum judged to have made a notable contribution to the understanding of the European heritage.

3.       The European Museum Forum also organises a series of other activities, including annual lectures, workshops and seminars. These have been largely based on the expanding network of new museums involved in the award scheme and have become an increasingly important part of the contribution it is making to the development of museum thinking in Europe. This is particularly focused on the relations between museums and their public.

4.       The most recent workshop held in Bertinoro in October 2000 was devoted to the theme of “The spirit of Europe” and led to the launching of a project of “European corners” in museums.

5.       The Assembly:

i.       welcomes its continuing cooperation with the European Museum Forum in the organisation of the European museum awards and related activities,

ii.       asks the Secretary Geneal of the Council of Europe to take steps to assure the appropriate involvement of the governmental side of the organisation in this activity,

iii.       invites the European Museum Forum, Icom and interested national museum associations to join in an evaluation of:

- the European museum award scheme

- the social responsibility of museums in general

- their particular role in reinforcing European norms and values

- such proposals as “European Corners” or a “Museum of Europe”.

Signed : ¹

Valk, Netherlands, SOC

Cherribi, Netherlands, LDR

Cox, United Kingdom, SOC

Davis, United Kingdom, SOC

Dees, Netherlands, LDR

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

O’Hara, United Kingdom, SOC

De Puig, Spain, SOC

Stepová, Czech Republic, SOC

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group