ABSTRACT
This chapter refers to communications from the European Commission that present the new Framework in support of culture, and to opinions of the Committee of the Regions concerning the role of culture. Cultural policy seeks to encourage and influence participation in the civil society and, by doing so it intends to promote certain ideas of culture, citizenship and the relationship between them. The chapter examines that multiculturalism and transnationalism are being construed as the new identifiers of opposite ideas of Europe. The desired transnationalism is a combination of co-operation between Member States in the cultural industry, abundant movement of nationals of Member States to other Member States, and growing recognition of the cultural traits of Europeanness. The Commission and the Committee of the Regions have different views regarding the use of structural funds for financing culture-related projects and the overall aims of the EU First Framework in support of culture.
