EESC opinion: European year of creativity and innovation (2009)

Key points:

The Committee

•  fully supports any measures to encourage creativity and promote innovation among EU citizens, and welcomes the initiative to devote a European Year to supporting and fostering creativity, through lifelong learning, as a driver for innovation;
• does not believe that this proposal for a decision is the best possible instrument for reaching the stated goal;
• considers that the process is rushed and could jeopardise the Year, which deserves the proper preparation that befits such an important event;
• points out that the proposed decision does not mention how much might be earmarked for this event, stating only that the budget source is the Lifelong Learning Programme and that other programmes (which are not specified) will co-finance the initiatives; the EESC believes that the proposal should include a budget estimate and that it should specify which programmes will be used to co-finance the Year.