 Thank you, Madam President. Now we'll move forward for our debate on the recovery of the cultural and creative sectors and on the new European research area. We have with us our Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Maria Gabriela. Thank you so much for your presence, but we have also two videos on the European Capital of Culture programs and the statements from the Mayor of Gobi and Mayor of Riveca. So before we go to Commissioner Gabriela, we'll just watch these short video reports from the two Capitals of Culture, Galway and Riveca, and hear their statements, please. I don't think the problem is from my side. I don't think we are being able to see exactly the videos. So I think we'll move forward to Commissioner Maria Gabriela for a statement in 10 minutes. Madam Commissioner, thank you so much for coming. You have the floor. Commissioner Maria Gabriela, you have the floor for 10 minutes. Okay, Chair, do you hear me? Yes, ma'am, perfectly. Okay, thank you. Thank you very much. Dear members, dear colleagues, it's a pleasure to meet you again. It's the first time I've seen you since our last debate, so I'd like to once again wish you a full year of 2021, full of concrete implementation and full of good action for our region. I would also like to thank you for inviting me today to this 142nd plenary session, which is an important step forward for the adoption of two important views on the European research space. And on the reliance of the cultural and creative sectors. So, together, we signed for the first time between our two institutions and with President CityCostas in action plan to precisely strengthen our cooperation in crucial areas such as science, innovation, culture, education and youth. I think it's a fundamental element to see how we can maximize the positive impact of our actions on the entire European territory. Today, the life on the European research space shows your interest and support. And I would like to particularly thank the reporter, Christophe Clairgeau, for his work. I am also delighted that the European deputy in Nica is participating in this debate. For those who are cultural and creative sectors, we all know that it is a constant today. They have been severely affected by the crisis. But I am also happy to see that we share the same analysis. What are the measures of support? And what is the future launch of these sectors? And this is where I would like to thank you again for the considerable efforts that these sectors have provided these past months. They have mobilized themselves, they have adapted. Today, it is more than necessary to continue to ensure their support. Thank you to the reporter, Giuseppe Varacalli, for his opinion. I am also delighted that the European deputy, Laurence Parang, will join us. So I would also like to thank the Galway and Rieka teams for their efforts, for the agility they have shown during this particularly difficult year. So thank you very much for the opportunity to discuss together with you these two views. And in the heart of these two views, obviously, is the notion of synergy. Today, more than ever, it is absolutely important to put our service, creativity, our ability to innovate, to see how we can converge in the messages and priorities, but above all, how we can offer our strength and that we can provide strategic and coordinated support in cities and regions, as indicated in the initiatives on the European Space of Research. First of all, on the European Space of Research. Today, when we say the European Space of Research, but also the European Space of Education and the plan for digital education, we clearly say that Europe should benefit from its collective knowledge. And these initiatives have given birth to a new ambition, a European strategy of knowledge as a voice to follow so that Europe remains competitive and innovative at a global scale. In particular, the European Space of Research revitalized comes back to say four major priorities. First of all, giving priority to investments and reforms, improving access to excellence and strengthening the research and innovation systems in the whole of the Union, improving the transfer of results from RNA to the economy, and finally, progressing towards a further integration of regional, national and European policies in terms of research and innovation. As of now, I would like to say that for me local and regional actors are essential to guarantee a good adoption of research and innovation policies at all levels, by fully implementing their responsibility to facilitate ecological and digital transition. And I am proud to share with you that just an hour and a half ago, I launched this morning the European Space of Research Forum for Transition. We are ready after 90 days, only after the launch of communication, with the first meeting of this forum. This forum is a group of experts where each member is represented, and I would like to say to him that the regional committee will be associated. So, this group of experts will focus on the conception of the new governance of the European Space of Research, the mechanisms that accompany it. I have given them a very ambitious calendar so that they can prepare the pact for research and innovation. But today, this forum allows us to say three messages. First, it is a group that will assist us and that will review the pact for research and innovation. It will be a pact that puts citizens in the center, alongside our scientific community and our industry. And it will be a pact based on fundamental European values that establish balance, but at the same time, which is ambitious to propose new actions and new policies. As soon as this forum for transition will establish links in the months to come with the regional committee and the regional committee, I confirm it will be an important interlocutor in this consultation process. Then, I would like to mention the importance of our exchange platform of knowledge, the Knowledge Exchange Platform. It is part of our joint action plan. It will want to support this decision-making process at regional and local level. I am happy to announce that this year, the first Knowledge Exchange Platform event will take place in June at the time of R&I Days and will cover the regional dimension of a new programme in Europe. When we talk about the European Space of Research, we must also talk about the adequate territorial participation in this European Space of Research. That is why I think we must, on the one hand, continue to pay attention to the access to excellence, but on the other hand, also to the synergy between education, research and innovation, including social policies and employment. We already have initiatives like the European universities. We are also very open to the proposal of the regional committee to see what are the means we have to develop common strategies to mutualize resources and, at the moment, go even further on subjects such as the attractiveness of scientific careers, the practice of open science, the equality of chances, or the circulation of talent and the transfer of knowledge. As of now, it is absolutely important to continue to pay attention to the synergy between the European Space Programme and the Erasmus Plus Programme. But this is also the possibility, for me, to be able to talk about the possibilities we can use with the Resilient-Centric Avery Facility. This is the moment when a member defines their national strategy. It is extremely important to use this opportunity window to reinforce the role of our regions and to see at this moment how we can ensure economic and digital transitions together. This is why, I would like to say it, we predict that the regional dimension will be studied in a new dashboard of the European Space Research which will allow us to follow the progress in the implementation of work from 2022. And this is why I think regional innovation, the practices that exist at regional level are extremely important to be able to follow and feed the final result. I would like to quickly mention that we have initiatives that directly meet our cooperation with the regions. I am talking here about the RHAPS, which aims to stimulate local innovation, the implementation of skills, the inter- and intra-regional connectivity, as well as a wider transnational cooperation that will be able to do thanks to the mobilization of resources, networks and actors at the national and local level. I would like to now move on to culture. I would like to highlight three areas. The exchange of information, the implementation of networks of mutual understanding and the added value of the European Union's financing. All of us have received a special attention in your opinion, in the first place, the exchange of information. To ensure that the opportunities are put forward and have an impact on the whole territory, we have to communicate as much as possible with all the leading parties. We have started to quickly exchange information with the member states on the measures on the COVID crisis. And your CEDEC commission has also participated. You have disseminated the information. You have shared the good ideas of your cities, of your regions, which are set up to support professional artists. We have also launched a Creative United platform that is a considerable success, with today almost 30,000 users since its launch. And it also contains actions set up by local authorities. We have also launched the mutual learning program, the Creative Europe program, supporting cultural networks in areas that go from music or art to performance, to heritage, to architecture or even to edition. Today, at the number of 28, these networks have all played a great role as a voice of the cultural sector during the pandemic. But also in the sharing of data, by offering solutions and engaging in a constructive dialogue with the decision-makers. Some organizations have also been of precious help. For example, the network of European music organizations, NEMO, which has shared data on the situation of music in all of Europe. Our Europe, which works in the field of the country one, or even Culture Action Europe, which co-directs the campaign for cultural impact for Europe in favor of an ambitious European budget for culture. Mutual learning is more important than ever. And that's the approach. Please be aware of time, Madam. Yes, I will finish. Mutual learning, I said it. I insist on the last point on financing. Today, we have a whole bunch of horizontal instruments in which culture is included. We will have to continue to sensitize the member states to be able to use them. 60% increase in the budget of Creative Europe. We must absolutely use these new possibilities. Something more than great novelty. A new culture cluster in the framework of the Programme Horizon Europe. And a new kick on the culture and creative sector with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. It will be absolutely necessary to pay attention to what these energies give us the possibility to use new instruments, to establish new partnerships and thus support the sector better. Here again, I insist and I conclude, Mr. President, the authorities and local and regional actors have a crucial role in these processes. These programs can be translated into actions carried out on the field near citizens only and also with the support of our regions. So now I will be able to stop here. I imagine that during the discussion there will be topics on the Bauhaus. I will remain available for questions. You see it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now I will give the floor to the Mayor of Galway. Mike Cover, you have two minutes. Commissioner and colleagues, greetings from Galway City. Whilst our opportunity to showcase Galway as European capital culture 2020 was severely hampered by COVID-19, we are extremely grateful to Commissioner Gabrielle for her efforts in securing an extension of our designation to April 2021. Your support, Commissioner, has greatly been welcomed here in Galway City. And allowed us to deliver further aspects of a program, although through new online activities and avenues. We have worked extremely hard with our culture partners, stakeholders and funders to make the program a reality. This pandemic has had and continues to have a significant impact on the cultural sector. However, the program today has supported the work of over 500 artists with 18 further projects to be launched in the months ahead. Culture and creativity are a very important part of our economy and reflect our European values and ways of life. This sector has been among the most severely affected by the pandemic. Our tourism sector has also been severely affected and in working towards the recovery of our tourism, opportunities will present to actively promote our culture worldwide. I welcome all the support already put in place by the European Union for the cultural sector. At local level, we are working closely with the regional assembly and our ministry to explore possible opportunities for funding of our cultural and creative sector through ERGF operational program. The impact of COVID on the arts and cultural sector has been detrimental and would last longer than in any other sector. The survival, recovery and sustainability of the sector is dependent on economic policy and decision making in the short and the long term. This is urgent in the sector, Commissioner, as it now faces two enormous challenges. One, how can people survive in the sector until it reopens? And two, how can the sector retain the artists, retain the creative, technical and production and support workforce in the background with the skills and the talent? And how will we ensure those skills and talents are retained for visitors and indeed locals to enjoy in better times? As many initiatives are considered and implemented by the EU, please be aware of time. The need exists for a clearly earmarked funding stream for a culture and creative sector to aid the recovery. As many recommendations will be discussed at national level, there will be a need to be administered at local level. Therefore, I will encourage those listening to support local and national governments in their calls for financial support. Only by working together, we can ensure the sector will not be left behind when the world reopens and by working together as one European family, we can give those working in the sector the confidence they need to lead the recovery. Thank you. Mr Obersnaal, Mayor of Fijenka, you have the floor for two minutes. Good morning from Rijeka Steel, European Capital of Culture. As you can see from the video, despite the difficulty, we managed the successfully implemented part of the Rijeka 2020 program. The pandemic definitely conformed the importance of arts and culture for the overall well-being as well as social inclusion emphasizing importance of the digital sphere in creating a hybrid experience with both visual, visual and physical interaction. However, despite the fact that we have achieved to implement such revised program, I have to say that European Capital of Culture project suffered a devastating blow with a large scale of financial reduction. For example, we reduced our budget by 40%. All that leads us to the conclusion that revised culture or policies are needed that put audiences in the core while taking care of the sector's needs as well as transversal approach and connection with the other sectors. The lessons learned from ECOC experience could certainly bring contribution to new to new cultural policies, dialogues which, by my opinion, cannot be implemented without an overall framework of the European level with finance, mechanism targeting specifically culture and artistic area. In a time when the utmost priority for all countries is the rehabilitation of their economies, we cannot expect national policymakers to theorize and distribute the EU recovery funds in the area of culture, having, of course, public health and economy growth as their main targets while fighting the COVID pandemic in all countries, especially in case of... Please be aware of time. This is necessary that the European commission must take into consideration the possibility of increasing its financial support and participation with the ECOC project enabling countries to continue the implementation of the project in the adequate way. Thank you so much. Now, we have 21 members who want the floor to intervene. I'll give the floor for Tanya Ristova for two minutes. Please be aware of time. Now I'll give the floor to Yelena Drehanin, two minutes. We're going to move on. Now I'll give the floor to Karin Glouaneck, and Yelena Drehanin, we don't hear. Okay, do you hear me now? Now, go ahead, two minutes. I can't hear you. Go ahead, two minutes. We're having difficulties communicating. We'll move on to Karin Glouaneck Morin, and then please, Christophe Glergeau. Karin, you have two minutes. Monsieur le Président, merci. Madame la Commissaire, chers collègues partout en Europe, la crise du Covid et sa gestion d'un pact dévastateur sur le secteur de la culture, ça a été rappelé encore plus insfixié depuis la seconde vague de la pandémie. Dans les meilleurs cas, les acteurs culturels, les artistes sont au chômage temporaire en attendant des jours meilleurs, mais dans la plupart du pays, les travailleurs des secteurs culturels ont un statut précaire, ce qui est souvent le cas, et des millions d'emplois ont disparu. Le plus retrouvé au théâtre au cinéma c'est l'activation pour le bien vivre et pour le lieu social. Vous êtes d'accord avec moi, Madame la Commissaire de la Culture, c'est un secteur stratégique pour l'Union Européenne en termes de valeur, en termes d'histoire, en termes de mode de vie européen, autant qu'en termes économiques. Et pour le groupe PSU du comité des régions, il est urgent de garantir la santé et la sécurité de tout le monde culturel. La culture et la création en Europe forment une catégorie représentant symboliquement notre diversité, souvent de tailles différentes, mais se caractérisant surtout par une prépondérance de petites structures de PME ou des travailleurs indépendants aux revenus irréguliers. Aussi, nous demandons un cadre européen pour que les conditions de travail dans les secteurs de la culture et de la création existent au niveau européen, à l'instar du socle européen des droits sociaux. Nous souscrivons d'ailleurs pleinement le Parlement européen qui invite à prévoir des aides conséquentes principalement basées sur des subventions pour les industries et le secteur de la culture et de la création. Et nous sommes d'abord sur la nécessité de réserver au secteur de la culture et de la création en fonction de leurs besoins spécifiques au moins 2% pour la facilité, pour la reprise et la résilience consacrée à la relance. Madame la Commissaire, c'est tout le monde culturel notre culture qui est en chute libre. L'Union européenne se doit de fournir un filet de sécurité aux personnes travaillant dans ces secteurs. Je vous remercie. Thank you. Thank you. Now I'll get back. Please. Please. You have to disconnect your. Now we will get back to see if Tanya and Istovah is with us already. No. Now Elena Dreihanin, are you with us? No, I'll give the floor to Christoph Klerchow for two minutes and then Francois de Kostak. Please check your sound. It's too low. No, we cannot hear you. We'll try again. Mr Elena Dreihanin, are you with us already? We seem to have some technical difficulties. I asked the services to see if they can help us. Elena Dreihanin, let's see if we can now have Christoph Klerchow. Francois de Kostak. Three minutes. You have the floor. Yes, thank you, Mr President. Madam, the commissioner, my dear colleagues, I think that maybe these technical problems are a revelator of the risk that made the sanitary crisis run, the culture, the one of detaining its voice and its expression, while obviously without meeting with the public, the culture no longer exists. And it may be symbolic that our debate is also a bit disturbed for these technical reasons. What I wanted to say, Madam Commissioner, is that this sanitary crisis was really a revelator of the specificities of the culture. You said it in your introduction. We have been able to see how much it was missing in the daily life of the Europeans. For example, the culture and the heritage have been a refuge value in my community of Satober. It is a real envelope that has accompanied the selection of a site of reallocation of a church of the Middle Ages of our city at the list of the seven European wonders in peril by a great panacea that you mentioned earlier. But we have seen that this sanitary crisis revealed the great fragility of the economy of the culture. We have been able to see the local collectivities because it was at the heart of our skills of a strong agility to try to see again a little bit the way we accompany the financing of the culture. The region of France, in which I am elected, has quickly reviewed its financial regulation to be able to take into account the impossibility to perform the programs that had been submitted to obtain subsidies. And then this agility of the culture. I preside the National Lille Orchestra and finally we went to look for new public thanks to the digital passage. And I think this lesson must accompany us for the pre-COVID. But this duration of the sanitary crisis is really the deadly danger today. We must make proof of initiative. I would like to hear you obviously on the new European Baos which is a formidable issue and which shows that we are changing the nature of our message and our action in the cultural field. But it is also the question of public funding that will have to be reviewed very likely. And then make sure that all the innovations that have been those of collectivities, actors of the culture remain also to be able to re-found also, I would say, the framework in which we will extend the cultural policies. I think there is a very important role of the Commission to be able to create European assistance of the rebound of the culture in a few months or in a few weeks. I hope because I would like to be able to make some lies. Maybe what the philosopher Jean Guitton said, the culture is the memory of a perfume in a empty bottle. Well, simply I think that our duty is to make this bottle of culture not empty. In any case, not too long time. I thank you. Thank you. I'll get back from the representative for the EPP. You have the floor. We'll move on. You have the floor. Two minutes. You have the floor. Two minutes. You have the floor. Two minutes. You can hear me. Now we can hear you. Go ahead. Okay. Thank you. Merci Madame la Commissaire pour les propos que vous avez eu notamment sur la question de recherche et d'innovation. Merci pour le rôle que vous voulez faire jouer au comité européen des régions et également pour l'approche qui est la votre centrée sur la créativité centrée sur l'innovation y compris social et les liens entre connaissance et recherche. Croyez bien que les élus du comité des régions souhaitent être pleinement actifs à vos côtés pour la mise en oeuvre de l'espace européen de la recherche. Nous souhaitons en effet être dès maintenant parties prenantes. You have the back in action Christophe. We cannot hear you. We'll move on now. I'll give the floor to Mr. two and a half minutes and Mr. Thank you very much dear Madame Commissioner. The pandemic has shown the vulnerability of culture and creative industry. According to various statistics, Europe's cultural and creative sector has been hit harder by the pandemic than any other industry. Maybe with the exception of tourism, aviation and congress. The sector is important for economies. It's mainly made of SMEs and independent business people and especially independent culture has been hit very, very hard and is in a difficult situation. Local and regional authorities have very big competencies in the area of culture and many of us have different kinds of grand schemes. For example Bratislava region in Slovakia represented in the Committee of Regions has established a very popular regional subsidy scheme for the cultural sector and last year our budget was hit very badly. Fortunately, we found a commercial partner, a big bank and we did the sharing. We split the budget basically so we continued with supporting the culture. I believe that in exceptional situations we have to look for ways to support this sector. I think it makes us Europeans European when it comes to the cultural literacy and this is the area where we really need to start finding creative and new solutions for supporting the sector. Madam Commissioner culture and creative industry is in a difficult situation and it's very difficult for people who are working in this area. Many of them already lost the jobs. The municipalities of course do everything they can but I think we will need the big support of the European Commission in order to make this sector restart again and I'm counting on your support. Thank you very much. Thank you Mr. Drobach. Now I'll give the floor to Kirin Makarte for two minutes after him Mr. Makarte you have the floor two minutes. Thank you Madam Commissioner as always for your enthusiasm and energy. When culture and arts are in crisis they take down with them a host of other tangible and intangible aspects of our life and economy. My own city of Cork Madam Commissioner is a former European capital of culture. It has 30 festivals every year 100 days of festival life and each one of the festivals and each one of the days collapsed due to Covid and many affected the way life of my city and region. My city missed out on millions and millions and millions of euros and visitor revenues which had a knock-on effect on my local authorities revenue. My city's festivals have reimagined some of their program and managed to earn back some small percentage of their regional agenda and definitely hearing firsthand from cities such as my own and others in a similar position can give ideas to other cities that are really struggling on adaptation strategies unfortunately 2020 and probably a good part of 2021 have been lost but we must look at the future taking into account the lessons learned. I agree with your sentiments that we need more exchange of information and more practical synergies among policies and structural funding possibilities but overall we need more visibility of what supports are in place. If there is a successful culture and creative cities monitor, I am calling today for a recovery monitoring tool are way more visibility for the create, unite tool that you actually mentioned. We as local and regional authorities want to contribute more with our experience and our proximity to practitioners and citizens. So Madam Commissioner the COR stands ready to help you in your cultural recovery brief to give insight and practical experience and examples from the ground but in particular visibility to your DG's ideas. Many thanks. Thank you Mr. McCarthy. Now give the floor to Ufuk Kaya for two minutes. You have the floor Mr. Kaya. Now we will get back is there from EPP Tania Ristova are you there? Dear Commissioner Gabriel greetings from Gavruvo and on behalf of the EPP group I would like to express our gratitude for your continuous engagement and support to the committee of the regions and local and regional authorities. We all see that the COVID crisis is testing our capacity to think and act in unconventional way and to create effective measures. Education, research innovation and culture are deeply anchored at local and regional levels and are key for the Europe's cohesion and sustainable recovery and smooth transition to carbon neutral economy. Now that we are already achieving an agreement upon the joint action plan it is time to mobilize our ambition and efforts to realize it in a bottom up approach and together with our citizens. Let me mention and emphasize something concerning cultural heritage and creative sectors. It is very important now to promote the European values and identity via education and culture at regional and local level and to encourage strength and cooperation. Now being at the beginning of the new program in period we need to be sure that the cultural and creative sectors are really recognized as an integral part of the economic, social and environmental recovery plans and regional authorities will be able to apply innovative and integrated approaches in order to achieve spillover effects towards other crisis hit areas such as tourism transport, education. It is an important element as restoration and adaptation of that sector for the future to develop and to disseminate digital cultural content which is accessible to citizens. For example the new Horizon Europe program must lay foundation for collaboration and experimentation and finally I would like to mention interregional dimension of cooperation and to suggest an initiative culture meets regions following science meets regions joint action of education and JLC. Thank you. Thank you. Now we move on Ufuk Kaya, two minutes. Thank you Mr. Scherre, thank you for the word and thank you also to the commissaries for the Heldere Betoog. My city of Den Bosch has a big cultural project and an active creative sector. It is a city for cultural lovers but also for makers. In all sectors the community supports interesting cultural plans by means of co-financing, network and knowledge. The corona crisis is a big hit for the cultural and creative sector in the whole of Europe. Presentations are closed, museums are closed and tours are not going on. In essence, to admire and admire is forbidden. In a sector that already had few financial reserves, there is a blow to its income. The national authorities do their best to keep a lot of institutions. We see that it is mainly about national institutions that receive a lot of funding. Europe can therefore support the best focus on regional institutions. Institutions that are extremely important for the development of cities and regions. It is at a local level where Europe can have the most impact and create opportunities for makers and for the creative sector. Can I hear from the commentators how they are going to ensure that European support mainly focuses on local and regional institutions? Thank you, chairman. Thank you. Dear commissioner, Europe has a rich cultural heritage. I always admire everywhere in the EU the unique buildings, nice cities and small villages, showing the hundreds and thousands of years of heritage and also the traditional arts and the circumstances. I am happy to discover also the culture of the minorities, the Samines, Scandinavia, the South Tyrol mixture of cultures, the South Tyrol, last but not least, the secular minorities in Romania in secular land with their unique houses, wooden dates, folk dances, costumes, characteristic food, nice language dialect. There must be a balance in the culture. Yes, it is important to support creative sector but we have to insist on our roots of diversity or cultural heritage coming from all the nations and from all the minorities. Let's be proud to be part of our everyday modern life. Thank you. Thank you. Now Mr. Gary Wolf, one minute follows Dietmar Broker. Gary Wolf, one minute. You have the floor. Ms. commissioner, Mr. president, dear colleagues and colleagues, Berlin has been very successful with the fact that the cultural explicit in the name of the work area mentioned by the president is important for the identity and also our reflection and dialogue in our societies both European and also in Berlin. Culture shows diversity and strength democracy. The cultural creativity is a very important economic factor in Berlin with over 200,000 social security employees and there are 100,000 self-employed. Covid-19 burdened the artists in a very special way. Also the areas of the industry. There are no guests, no tourists, no events. We have developed a very specific club culture in Berlin that also suffers from it. I think it is important that the programs that we use from EFRO and ESF or Creative Europe will also be used for reconstruction and resilience. Thank you, sir. You have to conclude. Thank you. Now I give the floor to Dietmar Brokers. One minute for Mr. Smolka. Dietmar Brokers, you have the floor. One minute. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Now the floor is of Mr. Smolka. One minute. Mr. Smolka, one minute. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. You have to conclude. Thank you. Thank you. Now I give the floor to Satu Apanan. Follows Christof Klickshu. Satu Apanan, one minute. You have the floor. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You have to conclude. Thank you. Thank you. Now I give the floor to Christof Klickshu. Satu Apanan, one minute. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now I give the floor to Christof Klickshu. One minute. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. the research, but also we are really taking part, since it is there that will do the debate on the package for research and innovation, and for the implementation of the EWA-Hubs. I insist very particularly on the EWA-Hubs, and we will make proposals so that it becomes really support points to develop the research and science on the territory concerned. Hello Christophe, we lost you. Now we're going to move on to Mr. Andros Karjani for one minute, follows Adam Karaksoni. Mr. Karjani's one minute please. Mr. Karaksoni, you have the floor for one minute, follows Vicenzo Bianco. Mr. Karaksoni, the floor for one minute. Commissioner Gabriel, dear colleagues, European cultural heritage is a main element and source of our identity, thus the Union needs to protect it in practice. Therefore we cannot keep silent about that European Christian cultural heritage is in danger and needs protection. According to a survey, 80% of EU citizens deemed it necessary to protect religious buildings. Despite of this, in European cities and regions, we can witness hundreds of religious buildings being destroyed and Christian memorial places falling victim to vendors. Surrendering and not protecting our cultural heritage, we result in a surrender and lack of protection of our fundamental identity and European way of life. Thus we must not forget that Europe can only remain strong if it is constituted by strong nations with strong identities. Thank you, sir. Now I'll give the floor to Mr. Vicenzo Bianco for one minute, follows Agnes Kampal. Mr. Bianco, you have the floor. Thank you, President. A sincere appreciation to the Commissioner for his intervention. A thank you to the colleague Pino Baracalli for the quality of his report. I just want to remind you that the Committee of the Regions in 2019 has tried an important 3D on this topic and I would like to underline two aspects in particular. One, the absolute need to improve the quality of telematic communications, especially in the small and innocent mountains. The presidency of the pandemic is showing that there are two European countries that are connected with the difficulty of connection. The second issue is to establish important resources, not only to restore cultural goods, but also to the use of cultural goods, a factor of cultural tourism, to give work, especially to young people. These are very important priorities, I believe, our Commissioner will take it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Bianco. Now I give the floor to Kampal. Agnes Kampal, one minute, followed by Martin Heitinger. Mr. Kampal, you have the floor. I speak. Hello, Madam Commissioner. I would first like to thank you for your enthusiasm and your commitment to support the European space of research and, of course, creative culture. The pandemic has measured each of our fellow citizens to what extent the flow of the brains of our researchers to be able to pursue their research elsewhere, and especially French researchers, is a real calamity. And the European space of research is really something in which the collectivities will want to be involved to stop this fatal hemorrhage. For those who are of creative culture, we are extremely happy to learn the measures and support that you will bring to this essential area. And we, the Alpeco de D'Azur region of culture, we are an example and we are an example of a tragic consequence of this pandemic. I may request, I may request you to try to put an end to it. Thank you, Madam. You have to conclude. Thank you. Yes, a strategic coordinate for the confinement of cultural places, because there is a real chaos in each of these places. Thank you. Thank you. Now I give the floor to Martin Heitinger, one minute, followed by Andros Karajanis. Heitinger, you have the floor. Now I give the floor to Mr. Karajanis for one minute, followed by D3, 4D. Mr. Karajanis, you have the floor, one minute. Can you hear me, Mr. President, now? Yes, please go ahead. Yes, thank you, Mr. President. They are commissioners. Thank you for giving me the floor to speak in the short period of one minute about culture and artists in general. I will be very brief. My request to the commissioner is to support culture as European Union, but as local governments, too, we also have to support the culture and the artists, because coronavirus pandemic caused the closure of theaters, music halls, museums, cinemas, galleries, and caused employment among artists as local governments. And as representatives of our people in the committee of the regions, we must promote culture in our everyday life because culture is our way of living and without culture, we become poor in education, ideas, and learning. Thank you very much. Thank you. Now the floor is of D3, 4D, one minute, followed by Giuseppe Varacalli. It's a 4D, one minute. Now I give the floor to Giuseppe Varacalli. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and Madam Commissioner. Albert Einstein once said, logic will take you from point A to point B, but imagination will take you everywhere. Therefore, I welcome the albeit modest increase in the creative Europe program and my government's efforts to shore up the sector, particularly in my city of Cork at this vital time. The culture and creative sector often operates in small, non-traditional business models, so flexibility of funding is vital to reach those operating at local and regional areas. The most significant issue for the sector is cash flow, and there is a perception that funders are more focused and knock on a fix. I think we lost D3. I now give the floor to Giuseppe Varacalli for one minute. So, to see how to find the possible way out together, so that this sector can be raised, which is not easy for us. It is also a loss from the point of view of the cultural identity that is lost if we do not cooperate. So, it is my appeal to the United States to do this coordination. A group of workers from the European Commission of the European Parliament have been invited to join us. Thank you. I now give the floor to Martin Heitinger. You have the floor, one minute. Now I give the floor to conclude this session. First, to Christophe Clairjeu, our rapporteur to see if he can have the possibility to intervene, and then to our dear Commissioner Maria Gabrielle for final remarks. Now I give the floor to Christophe Clairjeu. Christophe, you have the floor. Can you see me and me? We can hear you, Christophe. Go ahead, please. Okay. I will just intervene on the last point. I am sorry that this is also a shock. I wanted to conclude, therefore, to insist on the impact of the crisis on research and innovation costs in the different regions of Europe. We have already seen it during the 2008 financial crisis. It is often in a second time, after the impact of the crisis as such, that these costs are decreasing. And today, new resources released at the national and European level are first and foremost mobilized to finance sanitary issues and defend employment. Our fear is that very quickly in the next two years, the costs of research and innovation are decreasing and that the gaps between the regions and between the states are increasing again. So you will insist, even the Commissioner, on the mobilization of the plans of violence to support the efforts of research and innovation. I think that we will have to go further and that in a year we will have to complement the plans of violence to support the efforts of the cities, regions and states in the service of research and innovation. It is essential to move forward and to respond to the challenges of ecological and energy transition. Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Christophe. And now I give the floor to our Commissioner, Maria Gabrielle, for final remarks. The Commissioner, you have the floor for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. President, dear members of the Committee of the Regions. Thank you very much for your remarks, for your suggestions, for your ideas. I will immediately address the reporter, Christophe Clargeau. Thank you very much, Mr. Clargeau, for the ideas that you have expressed. Thank you very much for the support. I must say that I have read with great interest your opinion and I must say that I will pay special attention, especially on certain notes that reveal weaknesses, weaknesses such as gaps between the regions, between the states, the fragmentation, all this to say that on my side, first in the transition forum, I will ensure together with my team that the Committee of the Regions faces a prominent part. I will pay special attention to your ideas on the RAHAP. It is also an initiative that keeps me in mind and I really believe in the role of the region. And for those who have gaps between the regions and the investments in research and innovation, and of course, you have to go beyond the plan of relaunch. And that is why I find that we have the good means with the Committee of the Regions. In our joint action plan, we have said that all the six months we will take place to see what are possible advances, what are the obstacles and what must be done more to be able to fully develop these joint initiatives that we have put forward. Thank you very much, Mr. Barakali. I assure you that the coordination for the work group between the Commission and the Committee of the Regions will be assured. Once again, I insist, my team is already perfectly aware that I would like to follow up more closely the implementation of our joint plan. And the first meeting is already in June, at the time of the R&I Days. I will now really try to respond to ideas that are very, very concrete. First of all, thank you very much to Mr. Kubar and Mr. Obersnel, our European Capital of Culture, Galway and Riek. I must say, you will restore the pioneers, the pioneers who have really ensured the development of the idea of the European culture to a strong point, to a point where there was real threat. And I would like to once again salute all your efforts. Now, it is sure that we must continue to pay attention to what synergies are, synergies with the European Development Fund regional that we can also use synergies with education and innovation. And I remind you that in the cohesion funds, 30% must go to innovation and we must pay attention again to what the region is completely involved in so that it can also go more in favor of culture. And obviously I support the transversal approaches that we should have. First of all, the first that is concerned is me in the framework of my wallet because it is true that the European Creative Europe budget has increased by 60%, but it is largely sufficient. And that is why I draw again the attention of Cluster Culture for the first time in the programme Horizon Europe, 900 million euros. Then we have a new kick with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Last week, we finished the negotiations. We wanted to have this first kick set as quickly as possible. This is the approach to decentralization. This is the local innovation systems. This is where regions can truly help these artists, these micro-entreprises, these startups. And I will come back to that as quickly as possible. Thank you very much, Madame Christova, for your idea. I will take it right away. Culture meets region. Why not? I am very open. I will talk very quickly with my team and quickly I will come back to the Committee of Regions to see how we can implement it as quickly as possible. On the role of education, it is something that for the first time I launched a call of 100 million euros in the framework of the Erasmus Plus programme with Exxpone. We have called on the partners for creativity. For the first time, we have proposed that education and culture work together at a local level. What I am now waiting to see is quickly to have an analysis on the quality of the projects, to see if the interest for this type of project can be implemented. And of course it will support me so that together with my team we can think again how we can use the Erasmus Plus programme to strengthen this relationship between education and culture. But I remind you, it is the first time that it has been done, and we must again discuss the impacts that are very, very precise. Thank you very much, Mr. Dekoster, for the Bauhaus. First of all, I would like to thank you because the Committee of the Regions has very favourably welcomed this new initiative of the President of Fonderland. As you know, with the Federal Commissioner we are also in charge of managing this file. On January 18, we have launched our website. What is important now is that those who want to engage in a long term, that means our artists, our designers, not only our artists, but we need innovators. They must show it so that they can at this moment be considered the partners of the new initiative. The partners will be those who will really show their engagement in a long term, and I am sure that the Regions will play a key role here. The same thing, you know that we have now announced a price, Bauhaus, which this year, at least of doubt this summer, will be attributed to a dozen categories that remain determined for projects that simply already show that they are able to combine the three aspects, aesthetics, durability and inclusion. And I am sure that here the Regions already have this type of example. I would be grateful to popularise this initiative. When we talk about innovation and culture, obviously it is something that keeps me at heart, I would absolutely like to insist. Two additional questions. The role of the former European capital of culture and the role of the European capital of innovation. I proposed to create a network of seas of all European capital of culture with the seas of the European capital of innovation. It is a great time that we can take advantage of our experiences, of our good practices that we do not lose a lot of time sometimes, and that we can take advantage of this expertise from the start to many regions. I would quickly like to welcome Madame Rampal. You are perfectly right. We now need a coordination for the confinement, especially in the field of culture. Last week, I received a delegation with Jean-Michel Jarre, Jean-Noël Tron. That is exactly what we are asking. All member states have not closed all their cultural activities centers. But today, it is true that it is necessary to have a maximum coordination. It is one of the actions on the ... Madame, the time ... Yes, I think ... If you allow me, I think that I was able to identify the great subjects. Coordination, synergy, absolutely strict cooperation between the Committee of Regions and the Commission in the framework of new actions. Thank you for your support messages. Thank you for your important messages. Also to popularize the new features we have between our hands, but also to popularize the new features we have now, thanks to our calls. By the way, I am taking the last time. I strongly support the call of the European Parliament so that 2% of the relaunch plan is devoted to the cultural sector. It seems to me that today, there are still many states that have not filled it. I count on the Committee of Regions so that we can advance on this point too. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Thank you so much for your input. And thank you to all the members for their ...