The contribution of culture to the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy [antikvár]

he conference on The Contribution ofculture to the implementation ofthe Europe 2020Strotegy was held between 28 February and 1 March in the building ofthe Hungárián Academy of Sciences. Approximately 200 participants attended the event that was organised in cooperation with the European Commission. The conference was in line with one ofthe priorities ofthe Hungárián EU Presidency and sought to identify the role of culture in the success ofthe Europe 2020 Strategy. In a transversal sense, a more generál conduct was meant by culture besides a dynamic, innovative segment of economy and society. In this sense the conference was going to discuss ways and conditions of how culture can contribute to the perfection of humán development, and to the improvement of social capital that are required for smart, inclusive and sustainable growth in Europe. The conference aimed to explore the specific areas and means of action through which this goal can be achieved, and furthermore, to propose operatíve measures to the Member States and the Commission. The discussions attempted to identify more focused exploitation ofculture in the economy, in education and in other fields of social action. The conference wished to highlight where cultural operators and operations most efficiently complement other forms of intervention. Equal attention was supposed to be spent to the development of creative and cultural industries, to the relation between culture and innovation, to the enhancement ofthe potentials ofculture in other areas of development, as well as on the role of specialised socio-cultural professionals and institutions in the achievement ofthe goals related to Europe 2020. The above-mentioned questions were discussed in four thematic sections, which alsó included the presentation of related good practices. The other objective was that the findings ofthe conference should contribute to the elaboration of a Council Conclusions document to be presented by the Presidency in the same topic. Overall, the conference successfully explored the areas of action and the means which enable culture to contribute more considerably to the implementation of the Europe 2020 Strategy. Furthermore, during the event proposals were formulated addressed to the Member States and the Commission. These findings and recommendations have contributed to the finalisation of the draft Council conclusions prepared by the Presidency in this topic. The adoption ofthe document was on the agenda ofthe Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council held on 19 May 2011.