Between 1 July and 31 December 2011, Poland presides over the works of the Council of the European Union. Aside from its strictly political dimension, the Presidency also gives the country holding it an opportunity to build its image as a nation and a member of the European Union. The main objective of the Polish Presidency shall be that of leading the European Union towards faster economic growth, and an enhanced political community. In order to achieve these targets, the Polish Presidency will concentrate on three fundamental priorities: “European integration as the source of growth”, “Secure Europe”, and “Europe benefiting from openness”. Presidency priorities in the field of culture Against this background, as stated in the Programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the priorities in the field of culture are as follows: “In the area of culture, the Presidency will continue working to promote a better understanding of the role of culture, using the potential of culture to enhance European integration and the EU’s social and economic development, including in the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy goals. In this context, the Presidency will work on measures highlighting the important role played by the development of key cultural competencies and individual and community creativity in building Europe’s intellectual capital (including its social and human capital). In the second half of 2011, work will begin to identify the most effective creative partnerships that contribute to the development of cultural competencies, and the role of NGOs in this process. The Presidency will support the continuation of discussions on the assumptions underlying the EU instruments that will support culture after 2013. The Presidency will also attach great importance to the place of culture in EU’s external relations. The EU should play a leading role in the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The Presidency considers it particularly important to develop and enhance cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries. Promoting people-to-people contacts and mobility between the EU and the Partnership countries will be a priority. We will also continue work on implementing the initiative to create a European Heritage Label by agreeing on a mechanism allowing the Council to nominate members of a European panel of experts on the Label.” Ambitious cultural programme accompanying the Presidency For many years, culture has been a vital element of the activities promoting Poland in the European Union, hence cultural institutions are taking an active part in the preparations for the first Polish Presidency. By way of a decision of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage (MCNH), the National Audiovisual Institute (NInA) has been entrusted with the task of designing and implementing the Cultural Programme – Polish EU Presidency 2011. With more than 1400 artistic events to be organised, the cultural programme of the Polish Presidency has been one of the most ambitious projects to promote Poland since 1989. Projects prepared by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, in cooperation with Polish and foreign partners, will be presented in the most important galleries, theatres and clubs, and at the most important festivals in Brussels, Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Moscow, Kiev, Minsk, Beijing and Tokyo. The events will take place in such famous places as Bozar and La Monnaie in Brussels, the National Theatre and the Southbank Centre in London, Martin Gropius Bau in Berlin, and Teatro Real in Madrid. The National Audiovisual Institute will oversee the implementation of the cultural programme in Poland. The main Polish cities where cultural events will be held include: Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław, Cracow, Sopot, Lublin, Białystok, and Katowice. Diplomatic posts and Polish Institutes will be especially active during the period of the Presidency as they will be responsible for the co-organization of more than 2500 events. The events are supposed to present Polish social and economic thought, history, literature, film, music, theatre, and visual arts to an international audience. One of the foremost events in the Polish Presidency of 2011 will be the European Culture Congress, which will take place 8-11 September 2011 in an exceptional city and location. The Congress will be hosted by Wrocław, European Capital of Culture 2016, that has for years been one of the most culturally thriving spots on the map of Europe. More information about the cultural programme can be found at: www.culture.pl Sources and related links: • Website Polish EU Presidency: www.pl2011.eu • Programme of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union • Website Cultural Programme of the Polish EU Presidency • European Culture Congress • Wrocław, European Capital of Culture 2016 • International Festival Wratislavia Cantans [Wroclaw)