Culture

Main content and commitments of Ukraine

Chapter 17 of Title V “Economic and Sector Cooperation” of the Association Agreement provides cooperation between Ukraine and the EU in the field of culture.

Cooperation between the Parties to the Agreement on Culture includes the following areas and tasks:

• promoting the expansion and improvement of cultural exchanges, mobility of art objects and artists;
• encouragement of the intercultural dialogue of civil society of Ukraine and the EU;
• cooperation within international forums / organizations such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Development of cultural diversity, preservation and evaluation of cultural and historical heritage;
• development of the cultural industry in Ukraine and the EU (implementation of the provisions of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005).

Responsible bodies in Ukraine

Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

Expected results

The state of adaptation of Ukrainian legislation and cooperation with the EU

An agreement was signed between the Government of Ukraine and the European Commission on Ukraine's participation in the EU Creative Europe programme. Ukraine ratified the agreement on February 3, 2016.

• Ukraine joined the International Centre for the Study of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). Participation in this organization will give an opportunity to train Ukrainian specialists in the field of the latest restoration technologies. The National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve was designated as the central institution of ICCROM in Ukraine.
• The Government approved the Long-term Strategy for the Development of Ukrainian Culture (Order No. 119 dated February 1, 2016). Implementation of the Strategy will contribute to the creative activity of citizens and the strengthening of civil society in Ukraine.
• The Law of Ukraine “On the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation” for the development of cultural and creative industries in Ukraine was approved. The Foundation will provide equal access to the resources of the budget sectors, overcome the systemic gap between them, deprive the Ministry of Culture of the functions of distribution of funds among participants of the cultural space.

Commitments to the Agreement on the Development of Cultural Diversity:

• Amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On the Protection of the Cultural Heritage” on the definition of the notion “cultural heritage monument” (Law of Ukraine dated May 25, 2017, No. 2073-VIII) were made;
• Procedure for creation and updating of the National Register of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine was approved. The methodology of preparation and execution of documents on the inclusion of elements of the non-material cultural heritage of Ukraine into the lists of UNESCO has been developed;
• At present, the Parliament is considering a bill that prohibits the placement of outdoor advertising on cultural heritage sites, sites that are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• In 2018, the concept of "creative industries" (the Law of Ukraine "On amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On culture");
• Enhanced efficiency of protection, preservation and management of cultural heritage (the Law "On amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On protection of cultural heritage" on the preservation of monuments of cultural heritage included in the List of world heritage of the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization (UNESCO)" was adopted).

The work progresses on the changes to:

• The Criminal Code of Ukraine in order to increase the responsibility for crimes in the sphere of cultural heritage protection and fulfillment of Ukraine's respective obligations under international treaties;
• Law of Ukraine “On Museums and Museum Affairs”. Optimization of the functions of public administration and decentralization in the field of museum affairs are envisaged;

Common projects with the EU

• With the support of the Eastern Partnership Programme “Culture and Creativity”, the study of the relationship between culture and general development was carried out within the framework of the SDIS (UNESCO Indicators of Cultural Impact on Development) project. Project results will be used to determine the role of culture in creating the development strategies.
• In 2017, a common project of the EU and the Council of Europe “Community-Led Urban Strategies in Historic Towns” (COMUS Project) was completed. As a result, three Ukrainian cities - Lutsk, Zhovkva and Pryluky - presented a portfolio of key strategic urban development plans, feasibility studies, and analytical studies. The purpose of the COMUS project is assistance to the central and local authorities in the direction of strategic renewal by adapting the objects of cultural heritage to the modern needs, ensuring the sustainable socio-economic development of small and medium-sized historic cities.
• In 2016, the project “SEE UKRAINE: DOCUDAYS UA ON TOUR” was implemented. The main objective of the project is to promote the national cultural product in the EU. As a result, Ukrainian documentary cinema was seen in five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Greece).
• Accession to the Expanded partial Agreement on cultural routes for the promotion of national cultural heritage in Ukraine and Europe by joining existing and initiating new cultural routes has been started (the Draft Law was approved by the Government on 05.09.2018).).
• Accession to the European Fund for support of co-production and distribution of cinematographic and audiovisual works of art ("EURIMAGES") has begun (the Draft Law was adopted by the Government on 07.11.2018).