The instrumentalisation of culture in the EU

In the Slovenian daily Dnevnik, Tanja Lesničar-Pučko writes about the significance of culture in the EU. "In the eyes of politicians culture has become a practical instrument with which the EU can secure influence beyond its borders. To this end the EU has earmarked 900 million euros for cultural projects this year. That is good. Funding culture is a great investment in the future of troubled regions - much better than the export of weapons within the NATO framework. Time and again I have been surprised by how little EU representatives know what they are talking about and how they always churn up the same empty phrases about democracy, tolerance and intercultural dialogue. ... Culture is threatened almost everywhere by neo-liberalism and political indifference. ... Culture should not be allowed to continue serving as a maid to politics, the sciences and capital."

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