The mechanism is intended to help ensure better protection, primarily of people but also of the environment and property, including cultural heritage, in the event of major emergencies, i.e. natural, technological, radiological or environmental accidents occurring inside or outside the Community, including accidental marine pollution, as provided for in Decision No 2850/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2000 setting up a Community framework for cooperation in the field of accidental or deliberate marine pollution(9).

With regard to draft rules on services, detailed opinions from EFTA States may not affect any cultural policy measures, in particular in the audiovisual sphere, which EFTA States might adopt in accordance with EEA law, taking account of their linguistic diversity, their specific national and regional characteristics and their cultural heritages.";

With regard to draft rules on services, detailed opinions from EFTA States may not affect any cultural policy measures, in particular in the audiovisual sphere, which EFTA States might adopt in accordance with EEA law, taking account of their linguistic diversity, their specific national and regional characteristics and their cultural heritages.';

RECALLING the provisions of the Convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property, adopted by the General Conference of Unesco in 1970, and those of the Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, adopted by the General Conference in 1972,

initiatives should be launched to foster the preservation of and access to the European cultural and artistic heritage, and to demonstrate the potential of the information infrastructure to stimulate creative endeavours and to support the development of local content in local languages and its dissemination.

creating favourable conditions for the reduction of market fragmentation and for the marketing, distribution and use of European digital content on the global networks to stimulate economic activity and enhance employment prospects, safeguarding cultural diversity, optimising the European heritage and facilitating access to knowledge.

The Protocol on protection and welfare of animals annexed to the Treaty requires that in formulating and implementing the Community agriculture policy, the Community and the Member States shall pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals, while respecting the legislative or administrative provisions and customs of the Member States relating in particular to religious rites, cultural traditions and regional heritage.

The Commission has since undertaken a further analysis under Article 12(2) of Regulation (EC) No 1266/1999 in respect of Measures 1.2.1 "Wholesale markets", 1.4 "Forestry and afforestation of agricultural areas, investment in forestry holdings, processing and marketing of forestry products", 1.5 "Setting up producer groups", 2.2 "Renovation and development of villages, protection and conservation of rural heritage and cultural traditions", 2.3 "Development and improvement of rural infrastructure", 3.1 "Improvement of vocational training" and 4.1 "Technical assistance" as provided for in the Sapard.

preparatory studies and technical assistance in the preservation of cultural heritage;

activities - studies and training schemes - aimed at protecting the cultural heritage.

preparatory studies and technical assistance for the preservation of the cultural heritage;

the common cultural heritage and the close historical, political and economic ties which unite them;

CONSIDERING their common cultural heritage and the close historical, political and economic ties which unite them;

conscious of their common cultural heritage and the deep historical, political and economic ties which unite them,

The Contracting Parties will cooperate in the field of information, culture and communication, both to create better mutual understanding and to strengthen cultural ties between them, such as preparatory studies and technical assistance for the preservation of cultural heritage.

The Contracting Parties, having regard to their cooperation within the Council of Europe, recalling the Declaration of 9 April 1984 from the Ministerial meeting in Luxembourg between the European Community and its Member States and the States of the European Free Trade Association, mindful that the establishment of the free movement of goods, services, capital and persons within the EEA will have a significant impact in the field of culture, declare their intention to strengthen and broaden cooperation in the area of cultural affairs, in order to contribute to a better understanding between the peoples of a multicultural Europe and to safeguard and further develop the national and regional heritage that enriches European culture by its diversity.