Ukraine joins EU initiative to protect democracy through culture and media - Ministry of Culture

Ukraine has become one of more than 30 countries that have signed the Declaration on the Necessity of Culture and Media as a Safeguard for Our European Democracies. The document was adopted during an informal meeting of EU ministers of culture and media in Copenhagen under the chairmanship of Denmark.

It was reported by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine.

The signatories include EU member states, the United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy and Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna. She emphasized that Ukraine has joined the common commitment to protect democratic values through culture, heritage and media freedom.

"Today, culture and media are strategic elements of Europe's security and stability. All signatories to the declaration are united by a common understanding: by protecting culture, we protect democracy," Berezhna said.

The participants of the meeting emphasized that in the face of global challenges and digital threats, culture, cultural heritage and independent media remain the basis for the sustainability of European democracies.

The document emphasizes that Europe's common cultural heritage - tangible, intangible and digital - is a "living memory" that unites citizens across time and borders.

At the same time, the heads of delegations noted that free, diverse and independent media are the main source of truthful information and one of the key tools to counter disinformation, manipulation and external interference

A separate section of the declaration is devoted to the ethical and societal challenges posed by the use of artificial intelligence in culture and media. The signatories emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of cultural expression and personal data of citizens, which is a prerequisite for the stability of democratic societies.

The document calls for the integration of culture, heritage and media policies into the European security system, recognizing them as integral components of the protection of democracy, human rights and common European values.