As another new year rolls on the European Union, a new European Presidency under the responsibility of the Czech Republic has just started working on its programmes and priorities. Creativity and innovation are the themes chosen for this European year.
As in every other European Year since 1983, the focus on specific themes should prod more public awareness on the chosen topic and stimulate political debate across the EU. Moreover campaigns, events and initiatives at EU, national, regional, and local level, funded by the existing Community programmes will be implemented during 2009. A number of European personalities hailing from various fields, including prof Edward Debono from Malta, have been nominated as special ambassadors for the Year. Author of 62 books Professor Debono, is regarded by many to be the leading authority in the world in the field of creative thinking and the direct teaching of thinking as a skill. The ambassadors’ diverse and wide background experience is expected to contribute to the debate on the role of creativity and innovation in the EU. Member states have also appointed national coordinators to hold their own activities during 2009. Bernardette Gerada, an officer at the Education Ministry, was appointed as the Maltese coordinator.
Consequently, as the European Commissioner for European Youth and Culture, Jan Figel, stated during the launch of the European Year last week, the EU should use the current economic crisis to set itself strategic goals both at European and national level, whilst at the same time improving the conditions for creativity and innovation. Given the current economic scenario, those who invest in creativity and innovation should be more competitive and should fare much better than those who do not. The special ambassadors attending the launch welcomed the Commissioner’s call to provide additional funding to help boost the Union’s competitiveness. Issues of human capital creation, productivity growth and environmental protections should be afforded more attention. Moreover, innovation helps in the development of good tools to tackle environmental challenges.
During the roundtable meeting Esko Aho, the chairperson of the group of ambassadors for the current European year, stressed that, it would be a “great mistake” if EU governments cut Research and Development budgets at a time of reverse negative growth to improve solutions in the short-term. All ambassadors agree that a knowledge-based society is the result of modern education systems. They concluded that cooperation between all the key players should improve education at all levels. Furthermore, as a follow-up to last year, the ambassadors backed artistic creation as an important tool for the promotion of the understanding of cultural diversity as a catalyst of creativity.
Ultimately, European stakeholders, communities and individuals need to keep in the loop of raising awareness and sharing experiences, while demonstrating the relevance of creativity and innovation in their areas of activity. Besides, their contribution towards creativity and innovation must not stop at the end of this year. Their goals should be a long-term and also play a key role in future policies.
Ms Azzopardi is Research Analyst at the Malta-EU Steering and Action Committee (MEUSAC)