"Our key priority is to expand the role of culture in solving social and economic challenges, ensuring sustainable and integrated growth. The role of culture is especially important here in strengthening the European identity, (...) and even increasing competitiveness in the world in order to make use of Europe's creative potential," Birutis told BNS.
Last week, Birutis presented priorities of the area he is in charge at a meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council.
According to Birutis, programs Creative Europe and Europe for Citizens, which still need endorsement, will be another task.
European cinema digitalization, tax benefits for cinema, the integration of audiovisual environment will be also on the presidency agenda, Birutis said.
"There's a common policy on using television as the use of television will continue to grow, therefore, the protection, the value protection while using IP television is an important issue for the whole Europe, and not a single country. We have said that we will be talking about that, and a special conference will be organized in Vilnius," the Lithuanian culture minister said.
In his words, the meeting also touched upon the importance of cultural diplomacy and the way joint efforts could step it up by establishing EU culture centers in third countries.
"We'll have to work hard, and especially on the China issue or the establishment of the first experimental center of European culture in China would be one of the first steps Lithuania will probably have to take," Birutis said.
