The President welcomed UNESCO's decision to bring the main international meeting on cultural policies to Spain, which had only previously been held in Mexico. An event where UNESCO's 194 Member States define together the global agenda for culture.
The Spanish candidacy started in 2023 and has been a joint effort by the president of the Government of Spain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation and the Ministry for Culture.
During the meeting, they discussed common challenges and what culture can do to address them. In this sense, Artificial Intelligence will be one of the topics to be debated at the edition to be held in Barcelona. A technology that represents great risks, but also important opportunities in all areas, including culture, and which is a priority for both Spain and UNESCO.
They also discussed the Culture of Peace, the backbone of the Spanish candidacy, reflected in one of the projects with UNESCO, which Spain is leading, such as the creation of a cultural centre in Lviv (Ukraine), a city declared a World Heritage Site and which is now in serious danger.
Spain is firmly committed to UNESCO's programmes. It is the country with the highest number of biosphere reserves and UNESCO Chairs in the world and the third highest number of sites on the World Heritage List. It is also the fifth largest European contributor to the Organisation's regular budget.
Non official translation
President's News - La Moncloa