European Culture and the Establishment of the Council of Europe

Cultural Perspectives and International Relations Studies

Abstract

The EU attached importance to cultural policy in 1990s, although the EC/EU originated and developped through economic integration. The reason for this new dimension is that the formation of European identity and culture was inevitable for the advance of the European federation. The Council of Europe, of which little is known in the history of European integration because it lacks supranational authority, was founded on the common political cultural character of western Europe. This work sets out to consider the cultural viewpoint in the beginnings of the European integration through analysis of the Council of Europe.
One of the foundations of the Council of Europe was the “European Movement”, which has been the association of the European integration movements and was mainly composed of eminent politicians. The “European Movement” regarded the European common culture as the core of the rebirth and unity of Europe. The aim of the Council of Europe reflecting this consideration, is to safeguard and realise the spiritual and moral values, which are the European common heritage.
These crystalized in the clauses of the Statutes (individual freedom, political liberty and the rule of law) and constituted the condition of membership. Greece and Turkey seemed very dubious with regard to religion and democracy, their admission was, however, approved because of strategic considaration of the cold war, required defense against the Soviet Union.
The most important achievement of the Council of Europe has been the conclusion of th European Convention on Human Rights and fundamental Freedoms. The Councll of Europe has additionally suggested that a multilateral convention should be concluded to regulate the status on the equality of treatment, and has promoted the European co-operation especialy in cultural and educational fields. Furethermore, its aim is to achieve greater unity between its members, for this purpose, the Council of Europe has propagandized the idea of “Europe”, particularly in the 1950s.
The Council of Europe and its supporters pursued the formation of European conscience and identity and its cultural policy is indispensable for unity. With its political cultural interpretation on “Europe”, the Council of Europe has functioned as democratic security.