On Thursday, 30 May 2024, the Meeting of the Bureau of the Steering Committee for Culture, Heritage and Landscape (CDCPP) of the Council of Europe was held in Bucharest at the invitation of the Romanian National Institute for Cultural Research and Training.
The meeting provided a platform for discussion about the importance of the policies, strategies and good practices of the Council of Europe for promoting the role of culture in a democratic society.
It was opened by Raluca Turcan, Minister of Culture of Romania who said in her statement, "It is a real privilege for Romania to host this meeting and, at the same time, to celebrate 75 years since the establishment of the Council of Europe and 70 years since the adoption of the European Cultural Convention. We all know and agree the essential role of the Council of Europe in strengthening cultural ties between the member states, but also the fact that its initiatives and programmes promote the contribution of culture in addressing the current problems of society."
At the end of the day, international guests, together with managers of public cultural institutions, diplomats, academics and cultural policy experts, participated in a special session entitled "Romania and the Council of Europe: roles and goals for culture and heritage".
Sergiu Nistor, Presidential Advisor emphasised in his address that: “Our country's accession to the European Cultural Convention had a significant impact on the democratisation of Romanian society and the building of a state of law”.
"The Council of Europe offers us a very strong instrument embodied in the European Cultural Convention. We assure all the CDCPP members and the representatives of the Council of Europe that they can count on Romania to fulfil the established objectives", stated Andrei Luca, Director - Directorate of Cultural Diplomacy, Education and Science, within the Ministry Foreign Affairs.
Irena Guidikova, Head of the Council of Europe’s Democratic Institutions and Freedoms Department, told delegates that: “By showing commitment to cultur, heritage and landscape, as your country continues to do today, Romania is supporting the important contribution of culture, heritage and landscape to the ‘soul of democracy’, to solidifying the very basis for democracy.”
Terje Birkrem Hovland, President of the CDCPP, added that "the programmes and initiatives of the Council of Europe (Strategy 21, European Heritage Days, Cultural Routes) encourage participation, cultural exchanges and intercultural dialogue, contribute to the strengthening of local communities and sustainable development. Today, we have the opportunity to discuss this heritage in the context of Romania and, at the same time, to look to the future promoting the relevance of culture, heritage and landscape in a world in constant evolution."
Carmen Croitoru, Vice-President of the CDCPP and General Director of the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training (INCFC), said that "recognising the fundamental role of this Organisation in Strasbourg, Romania has so far signed and ratified 170 conventions and agreements. The projections and recommendations of the Council of Europe remind us that democratic society is built on a system of institutions and cultural assets with identity and meaning. For many countries, Culture is an area with a strong political impact, because it can act where politicians fail to reach."
The event was organised by the National Institute for Cultural Research and Training (INCFC), in partnership with the National Heritage Institute (INP), and it took place at the National Art Museum of Romania (MNAR), which is housed in Romania’s historic Royal Palace. It was followed by a special performance in the Throne Hall by the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra’s Violloncellissimo Ensemble.
