Kosovo’s Participation in Creative Europe to Empower the Creative and Cultural Sector
On 5 June 2018, Mr Kujtim Gashi, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports of Kosovo, and Commissioner Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport signed an Agreement for the participation of Kosovo in Creative Europe.
On the occasion of the Signature Ceremony in Brussels Commissioner Navracsics highlighted that the participation of Kosovo in Creative Europe will strengthen the cultural cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Kosovo. What is more, Kosovo joins at a time when the EU is celebrating the European Year of Cultural Heritage, a great opportunity to increase awareness of common cultural heritage and its positive contribution to european identity, economy and social development. Kosovo is joining the Culture sub-programme and the Cross-sectoral strand of Creative Europe.
With Kosovo joining Creative Europe all the six Western Balkan countries are now participating in the programme. The participation in Creative Europe will provide new opportunities to support the cultural and creative sectors in Kosovo. It will also help build bridges and create space for people-to-people contacts, mutual understanding and co-creation.
“Membership in Creative Europe is another important step in the development of the creative sector in Kosovo, the audio-visual sector especially. Likewise it is a great opportunity for growth in regional and european collaboration and cultural exchange between members.” emphasized the Director of the Kosovo Cinematography Center, Arben Zharku.
“Taking into consideration that Creative Europe contributes, among other things, to the conservation of european cultural and linguistic diversity, european goals for sustainable and all encompassing economic growth, as well as assisting the cultural sector and creators in adapting to globalization and digitalization, the creation of new international opportunities, markets, and audiences. The Ministry of Culture, youth and sport, considers Kosovo’s participation in this program of immense importance,” said Minister Gashi.
Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport spoke of the importance of the program and the perspective that participation grants to non-member states of the EU. Likewise, he emphasized that there are preparations in place for the next budgetary period of Creative Europe from which Kosovo will also benefit.
