20.12.2013 Official Journal of the European Union L 347/221 REGULATION (EU) No 1295/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 December 2013 establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014 to 2020) and repealing Decisions No 1718/2006/EC, No 1855/2006/EC and No 1041/2009/EC (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 166(4), the first indent of Article 167(5) and Article 173(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions (3), Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (%), Whereas: (1) The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) aims at an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe and confers on the Union the task, inter alia, of contributing to the flowering of cultures of Member States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the same time ensuring that the conditions necessary for the competitiveness of the Union’s industry exist. In that respect, the Union, where necessary, supports and supplements Member States” actions to respect cultural and linguistic diversity, in accordance with Article 167 TFEU and the 2005 Unesco Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (the "2005 Unesco Convention"), to strengthen the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors and to facilitate adap- tation to industrial changes. (2)  Union support for the cultural and creative sectors is based primarily on the experience acquired with the Union programmes set out in Decision No 1718/ 2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (*)  (the "MEDIA programme"), Decision No 1855/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of () OJ C 181, 21.6.2012, p. 35. () OJ C 277, 13.9.2012, p. 156. (’) Position of the European Parliament of 19 November 2013 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 5 December 2013. (*) Decision No 1718/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 November 2006 concerning the implementation of a programme of support for the European audiovisual sector (MEDIA 2007) (O] L 327, 24.11.2006, p. 12). the Council (°) (the "Culture programme") and Decision No 1041/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (°) (the "MEDIA Mundus programme"). Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council () (the "European Capitals of Culture action") and Decision No 1194/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council () (the "European Heritage Label action") also contribute to Union support for the cultural and creative sectors. (3)  The Commission Communication on a European agenda for culture in a globalising world, endorsed by the Council in its resolution of 16 November 2007 (°) and by the European Parliament in its resolution of 10 April 2008 (19), sets the objectives for future activities of the Union for the cultural and creative sectors. It aims to promote cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, culture as a catalyst for creativity in the framework for growth and jobs and culture as a vital element in the Union’s international relations. (4)  With regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in particular Articles 11, 21 and 22 thereof, the cultural and creative sectors make an important contribution to the fight against all forms of discrimination, including racism and xenophobia, and are an important platform for freedom of expression and for the promotion of respect for cultural and linguistic diversity. (5)  The 2005 Unesco Convention, which entered into force on 18 March 2007 and to which the Union is a party, underlines that cultural activities, goods and services have both an economic and a cultural nature, because they convey identities, values and meanings, and must not, therefore, be treated as solely having commercial value. That convention aims to strengthen international cooper- ation, including international co-production and co- distribution agreements, and solidarity so as to favour the cultural expression of all countries and individuals. (>} Decision No 1855/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 establishing the Culture Programme (2007 to 2013) (O] L 372, 27.12.2006, p. 1). (°) Decision No 1041/2009/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries (MEDIA Mundus) (O] L 288, 4.11.2009, p. 10). (7) Decision No 1622/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing a Community action for the European Capital of Culture event for the years 2007 to 2019 (O] L 304, 3.11.2006, p. 1). (®) Decision No 1194/2011/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 November 2011 establishing a European Union action for the European Heritage Label (O] L 303, 22.11.2011, 1), ©) pO] C 287, 29.11.2007, p. 1. (1% OJ C 247 E, 15.10.2009, p. 32.