Press Release

20/07/2009

Cultural Affairs Committee elects Doris Pack MEP as new Chairwoman

The European Parliament's Cultural Affairs Committee today elected Doris Pack as its new Chairwoman. The German MEP, who was EPP Coordinator on this Committee for 17 years, expressed her gratitude for the possibility to continue her work on behalf of the entire committee.

Due to their upcoming re-establishment, Doris Pack named the EU educational programmes COMENIUS, ERASMUS, LEONARDO and GRUNDTVIG as well as the programmes YOUTH and CULTURE as substantial points of committee work in the new legislative period. These offers for mobility and exchange should be one of the major tasks of European policy, so that the next generation can understand the importance of European integration and push forward this process. Moreover, with the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, the Committee shall also dedicate itself to sports, which always has been a cross-border sector.

Doris Pack also wants to focus on the new audio-visual media, in particular regarding the protection of copyrights and the preservation of cultural diversity in the European Union. In view of the problems connected with the Bologna Process which was created by the national governments and universities without involving the European Parliament or national parliaments - the Committee Chair furthermore sees the need to create a platform to discuss and provide a better framework for the Bologna Process. A critical report from the year 2009, adopted by the European Parliament, could serve as a basis for this. "Instead of promoting student mobility, the present Bologna Process has often had exactly the opposite effect", stressed Doris Pack.

(Translation from the original German)

For further information:
Doris Pack, MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847310
Knut Goelz, EPP Group Press Service, Tel: +32-479-972144