Cultural European integrations with a view of the cultural heritage preservation cooperation between Serbia and EU

Abstract

People from different EU member states may have different ideas on their cultural identity, affiliations and citizenship, but they all face the same question: How can different cultural identities co-exist on the basis of mutual respect and an active desire to live as one community - the very values that underlie the European ideal of peace and security. Culture has always been a fundamental part of the process of European integrations. Since 1992, the Treaty establishing the European Community has provided a legal basis specifically for activities concerning the preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. In line with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, ratified by all the Member States and by the EU, the new agenda for culture reinforces the cultural dimension as a vital element of EU external relations. This priority, inter alia, is accompanied by a number of measures: to pursue the political dialogue in the field of culture and promote cultural exchanges between the EU and third countries as well as to build on external relations to set up financial and technical support.