Council gives green light for the European Year of Creativity and Innovation

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 20 November 2008

The Council has adopted a decision proclaiming the year 2009 "European Year of
Creativity and Innovation" (doc. 3691/08).

The aim of this year is to support the efforts of Member States to promote creativity,
through lifelong learning, as a driver for innovation and a key factor for the development of occupational and entrepreneurial competences.

In the framework of existing programmes, the EU will contribute to financing measures at European, national, regional and local levels that help to achieve these goals, including:

– conferences, events and initiatives to promote debate and raise awareness of the
importance of creativity and a capacity for innovation;

– information and promotion campaigns to disseminate key messages;

– identification of examples of good practice and dissemination of information about
promoting creativity and a capacity for innovation;

– surveys and studies on a Community or national scale.

15808/08 (Presse 333)

The decision was taken in first reading according to the co-decision procedure, with the European Parliament having voted in first reading on 23 September 2008. Given that the Council has now accepted all amendments of the European Parliament, the decision is adopted.