Commission's consultation on the Green Paper "Unlocking the potential of cultural and creative industries" has had more than 350 contributions submitted. They will help the Commission better respond to the needs of cultural and creative industries in Europe.

More than 350 public authorities, public or private organisations active at European or national level and individuals from more than 25 countries and representing the cultural and creative industries in their diversity have submitted their ideas and opinions to the Commission's consultation that closed on 30 July 2010. The contributions will help the Commission better respond to the needs of cultural and creative industries in Europe.

It already emerges that the broad approach taken by the Commission, going from access to funding to capacity building and skills development, from the need to open up a common European space for culture to the need to help cultural and creative industries develop locally and go global, from the promotion of European creators on the world stage to the need to ensure the sustainability of creation in the digital environment, was very well received.

All contributions will be put online in early September while the Commission will publish a detailed analysis of this consultation in the fall.

The culture in the EU

The culture sector provides quality jobs for five million people in the EU. Also, the cultural and creative industries are growing faster than most other sectors of the economy, as instructed the past 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation.

In addition, digitization and globalization are creating new market opportunities, especially for small businesses.

Cultural and creative industries also contribute to competitiveness and social cohesion of our cities and regions. European Capitals of Culture, as Pécs, Istanbul and Essen this year 2010, show the culture contribution.