Discovering talents

“”Both creativity and the capacity to innovate are key human qualities – they are inherent to all of us, and we make use of them in many situations and places, whether knowingly or not”. Jan Figel’, Commissioner responsible for Culture and Education, delivered his remarks on individual and social features during the presentation of the objectives and initiatives of the year 2009, that the EU proclaimed the European Year of Creativity and Innovation under the slogan: “Imagine. Create. Innovate”. For a better Europe. “With this European Year I would like to see that the citizens of Europe understand better that by promoting human talents and the human capacity to innovate, we can electively shape Europe for the better, to help it fully develop its potential, both economically and socially”, Figel’ said December 5, during the media launch of the event. A series of events have been organised in Brussels for the official handover from the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue 2008 to its successor of 2009, like the concert of the creative Vegetable Orchestra, that plays instruments solely made of vegetables. The Year will be officially inaugurated in Prague on January 7 to the presence of Commission President, José Manuel Barroso and the Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, who is the next President-in-Office of the European Council starting January 1st.Events and website. According to the Commission, that is in charge of the communication campaign for 2009, the European Year of Innovation and Creativity (EYIC), aims to “raise awareness of the importance of creativity and innovation as key competences for personal, social and economic development and contribute to better equip the European Union for the challenges ahead in a globalized world”. “As for the previous European years – Commissioner Figel’ explained – measures will include promotion campaigns, events and initiatives at European, national, regional and local level”. The launch of the media campaign also sees the inauguration of the website a http://www.create2009.europa.eu/, “with news, events and activities, and reports of the activities” of the Year. “with news, events and activities, and reports of the activities” of the Year. The “ambassadors”. EYIC, the organizers pointed out, “is a horizontal, cross-cutting exercise involving many areas: apart from education and culture, it involves enterprise, regional and research policies”. The Commission asked a number of personalities with a prominent record as concerns creativity and innovation to become Ambassadors of the Year. Two dozen have accepted, among them figure: Esko Tapani Aho, former Finnish Prime Minister, author of an EU report on innovation; Professor Bengt-Ake Lundvall, leading European researcher on innovation; Sir Ken Robinson, a leading world authority in creativity and education; Jean-philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International; Professor Ernö Rubik, teacher and designer of the famous Rubik’s cube; and Radu Mihaileanu, the Romanian-born French film director and screenwriter”. The Ambassadors will support the Year in their countries and worldwide. The 2009 agenda envisages a large number of different events and initiatives, while six public debates “on fundamental aspects relating to creativity and innovation” will be held in Brussels, in order to “provide a platform for reflection and exchange of ideas which can contribute to policy discussion on Creativity and Innovation. The will cover such issues as cultural diversity, public sector, education, knowledge society, sustainable development or creative arts and industries. 2010 to be the Year Against Poverty Each year the European Union raises citizens’, community institutions’ and Member States’ awareness over a significant theme and devotes a series of initiatives, surveys and debates on the issue. After 2008-Year of Intercultural Dialogue, the year 2009 will focus on Innovation and Creativity. Accordingly, 2010 will be devoted to the fight against poverty and social exclusion. “The fight against poverty is one of the major objectives of the European Union – declared Vladimír Spidla, Commissioner responsible for Social Affairs. “The European Year will promote public awareness over this issue since poverty is still a heavy burden on the daily lives of many European citizens”. An estimated number of 78 million people living in the 27 Member States are poor or are on the threshold of poverty, representing 16% of the overall population.