This paper, commissioned by the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, analyses the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in the external relations of the EU. Particular attention is paid to the areas of international trade, development and human rights, as well as to the implications of the Convention in terms of governance. Although the analysis focuses on developments since the coming into force of the Convention in 2007, reference is also made to pre-existing policies which are relevant to the Convention's aims. A set of conclusions and recommendations closes the document.
The paper has been prepared by Jordi Baltà, project coordinator at Interarts. It was presented during a seminar on the implications of the Convention for the EU which was held at the European Parliament on 2 June 2010.