About ECP
The European Cultural Parliament was founded in the premises of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, in 2001. The objective was - and is - to strengthen the role of cultural and artistic ideas and initiatives in Europe. In addition, the founders of the ECP wished to strengthen the dialogue between citizens in Eastern and Western Europe and between the various arts sectors.
To this end, outstanding artists and other cultural personalities from all parts of the continent were nominated Members of the ECP in 2002. By the end of 2006 the ECP has about 130 Members from 40 European countries.
The first session of the ECP was held in Bruges, Collège d´Europe, in November 2002. Some 40 cultural personalities from 25 European countries participated. The theme was “How can European artists and other cultural personalities contribute to better understanding between cultures, religions and regions?”. The artists agreed i.a. upon a statement to the effect that “Ethical and aesthetic values must be the essence of a new European Society”. It was also decided that the membership of ECP should continue to grow, mainly through an “organic process”, whereby ECP-Members may nominate artists/colleagues from other countries than their own.
The second session was held in Graz, in the Governor's office “Burg”, in November 2003. Themes were “Culture as an Instrument for Conflict Prevention” and “Creativity, Creative Milieus and Civic Transformation in Europe”. The third session was organised in Genoa, in Palazzo Ducale, in December 2004. The theme was “Culture beyond Entertainment”. The fourth session took place in Lisbon, Gulbenkian Foundation in December 2005. More than 80 cultural personalities from 38 countries met to discuss the theme “How can European Culture promote European Cohesion?”.
The 5th ECP session was organised in Turku, Finland, September 15-17 2006. Again, more than 80 cultural personalities from 38 countries participated and discussed various aspects of the theme “Can Culture Help Dissolve the European Stalemate?”
The 6th session was held in Sibiu, Romania, 5-7 October 2007. Two themes were discussed; "Intercultural Dialogue" and "Communicating the European idea to citizens".
The ECP will continue to meet in coming years in culturally important cities in various parts of Europe. Several members are engaged, also between sessions, in carrying out various projects initiated by the ECP, notably NUROPE, the "Nomadic University for Arts, Philosophy and Enterprise in Europe”, which had its first “oasis” in Turku 11-14 September and continued in Biella, Italy in February 2007. The ECP Lisbon Agenda Research Group is continuing its work on the strategic role of culture in a knowledge-based economy.
The Senate - a group of Senior Europeans with a cultural orientation - functions as a standing committee for strategic issues, including financing of the ECP and choice of new host cities. Minister Pär Stenbäck, Helsinki Finland, is the Chairman of the Senate.
The legal and administrative centre of the ECP is the German NGO “Verein für ein Europäisches Kulturparlament”, Klett-Haus, Stuttgart.
The office of the Secretary General of the ECP, Karl-Erik Norrman, is in Berlin, Germany.
