PURPOSE: to
designate 2009 as the “European Year of Creativity and Innovation”.
LEGISLATIVE
ACT: Decision No 1350/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council concerning the European Year of Creativity and Innovation (2009).
CONTENT:
having reached agreement with the Parliament at first reading, the Council
adopted a Decision designating 2009 as the “European Year of Creativity and
Innovation”.
The overall
objective of the Year shall be to support the efforts of the Member
States to promote creativity, through lifelong learning, as a driver for
innovation and as a key factor for the development of personal, occupational,
entrepreneurial and social competences and the well-being of all individuals in
society.
The specific
objectives of the Year shall be to highlight, inter alia, the following
factors:
- providing an
environment which is favourable to innovation and adaptability in a
rapidly changing world; all forms of innovation, including social and
entrepreneurial innovation, shall be taken into account;
- highlighting
openness to cultural diversity as a means of fostering intercultural
communication and promoting closer links between the arts, as well as
with schools and universities;
- stimulating
aesthetic sensitivity, emotional development, creative thinking and
intuition in all children from the earliest stages of development,
including pre-school care;
- raising
awareness of the importance of creativity, innovation and
entrepreneurship for personal development, as well as for economic
growth and employment, and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets,
particularly among young people, through cooperation with the business
world;
- promoting
education in basic as well as advanced mathematical, scientific and
technological skills conducive to technological innovation;
- fostering
openness to change, creativity and problem-solving as competences
conducive to innovation which are transferable to a variety of
occupational and social contexts;
- broadening
access to a variety of creative forms of self-expression both throughout
formal education and by means of non-formal and informal youth
activities;
- raising
awareness among people that creativity, knowledge and flexibility are
important in a time of rapid technological changes and global
integration for a prosperous and fulfilling life;
- promoting
design as a creative activity which significantly contributes to
innovation, including basic notions of protection of intellectual
property;
- developing
creativity and innovative capacity in private and public organisations
through training, and encouraging them to make better use of the
creative capacities of both employees and clients.
In the context
of existing programmes, the EU will contribute to the funding of
European, national, regional or local measures which contribute to these
objectives, including:
- conferences,
events and initiatives to promote debate and raise awareness of the
importance of creativity and a capacity for innovation;
- information
and promotion campaigns to disseminate key messages;
- identification
of examples of good practice and dissemination of information about
promoting creativity and a capacity for innovation;
- surveys and
studies on a Community or national scale.
ENTRY INTO
FORCE: 25/12/2008.