President Barroso persisted in his refusal of such an exclusion. He maintained a line that guarantees no respect of the Cultural Exception and greatly jeopardizes the future of cultural policies in Europe.

José-Manuel Barroso does not want to hear the plea of 7,000 Culture Professionals, amongst which are the most respected European filmmakers.

He remains deaf to the position of the European Parliament, the only democratically elected European organ, though it overwhelmingly voted in favour or a total exclusion of cultural services from the mandate.

President Barroso thus validated the arrogant sentiment of Commissioner Karel de Gucht, who so disdainfully dismissed the Parliament’s resolution.

José-Manuel Barros decided to risk the whole future of creation in Europe, reducing it to a single card in the dangerous poker game that stakes the very identity of European peoples. He therefore challenges the foundations of Europe: those defended through our work, through the history of the people; a history which is the cement of the European identity, and the wealth of our diversity.

The European filmmakers call to the Member states to ditch this perilous project for European culture.

Strasbourg, June 11th 2013

Jean Pierre et Luc Dardenne