Does the EU seek to reduce culture to a mere economic issue?
Whilst the European Commission seeks to demonstrate the economic impact and potential of the cultural and creative industries in Europe, and hence its importance for the EU’s ability to achieve its Lisbon objectives, this strategy must not be seen as being at the expense of the inherent particularity of culture. On the contrary. The common European strategy for culture promotes diversity, and whilst its objectives are compatible with the Lisbon strategy, they may also be seen as important drivers for other EU policy strategies, such as the Gothenburg strategy for sustainable development. Indeed, sustainability, creativity and culture are highly intertwined. The development of creative clusters in European cities such as London and Berlin serve as examples of the potential the cultural and creative sectors hold for generating sustainable development in urban areas with difficulties.
