The CDCE and the digital
era
Antonios Vlassis, CEFIR-Université de Liège
Three main points
The recent trade agreements and the treatment of cultural
goods and services.
The international cultural cooperation and the International
Fund for Cultural Diversity.
The participation of civil society within the Conference of
Parties and the Intergovernmental Committee.
Trade agreements
1990s: GATS-WTO, NAFTA, MAI-OECD and the cultural exception
2000s: bilateral agreements of US, Protocol of cultural cooperation by EU.
2013: the new approach of cultural exception (EU-Canada)
Four strategies
The inclusion of audiovisual and cultural services.
The total exclusion of cultural industries (typical cultural exception)
The chapter by chapter exception.
The Protocol of cultural cooperation.
Recent trade negotiations (TPP, TTIP) and digital audiovisual services (video on demand, catch-up television).
Towards a new strategy beyond the zero-sum approach?
International cultural cooperation
and the IFCD
The IFCD is one of the main tools of the CDCE for promoting the development of cultural industries in developing countries.
71 projects from 43 developing countries with US$ 4.3 million in funding.
Total received contributions $US 6.6 million (asymmetry and irregularity).
Three main issues of the IFCD implementation
Major identity problem of the CDCE: Confusion and misunderstanding about scope and objectives of the CDCE.
Identification of the programs dedicated to the cultural development.
Ex. Aides aux cinemas du monde, Euromed Audiovisual, Media Mundus, ACPCultures+, Francophone Fund, IBERMEDIA.
Better synergy and coherence among the multilateral funds (prevent the overlapping). Inclusion of the culture in the post-2015 development agenda? Unlikely.
