In public deliberation, the Council reached a partial general approach on the proposal for a regulation establishing the "Creative Europe" programme for the period 2014-2020 and bringing together the three current independent programmes: CULTURE, MEDIA and MEDIA Mundus. The main objectives of the programme are to promote cultural diversity and enhance the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors and it proposes a budget allocation of EUR 1,8 billion.

Several member states underlined that the intrinsic value of culture must be preserved and that the overall programme should be re-balanced towards a more non-profit, cultural dimension. Some considered that the Culture strand should only fund small scale, non-commercial projects. Commissioner Mrs Androulla Vassiliou underlined that it would not be fair to exclude from funding every profit making cultural or creative organization, since this would discourage them not only from seeking additional sources of financing but also from trying to be successful.

This agreement constitutes a political mandate for succeeding Presidencies to engage in informal negotiations with the European Parliament during the second half of 2012 and with the aim of reaching overall agreement on the proposal early in 2013.

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