Following the opening of the High level conference on the "Cultural heritage in Europe - linking past and future", Antonio TAJANI, EP President, speaks to the press in the European Parliament.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

statement

preservation of EU's cultural heritage (T)

Statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President on the "Cultural heritage in Europe - linking past and future" following the opening of the High level conference

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Thank you very much for coming, as you know for us it is crucial to strengthen our cultural heritage, this is the most important point, for the European Union. Europe is hour heritage, Europe is not only Central Bank, not only Euro, not only the European Parliament, not only the European Commission or the European Council, it is first of all our identity and our cultural heritage. We are here in defence of our cultural heritage, to strengthen our cultural heritage is also to open the doors, to have a debate to others. There is diversity (in Europe) but of course the same identity, this is very important and it is also important for us to protect our cultural heritage trough the new rules on the copyright.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, European Parliament will vote in Strasbourg new rules in defence of rights and of our identity.It is important to do it, it is important to protect Europe, to protect our identity in front of the attacks coming from the Web platforms. We are not against freedom but we need rules. Freedom is also the respect of our cultural heritage and our cultural identity.