What is the impact of culture on the EUs economy and its contribution to the Lisbon Strategy?
In 2006 the European Commission commissioned a major study on the economic impact of cultural and creative industries in Europe. This study documents for the first time the economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, in particular in the framework of the Lisbon strategy. In 2003 the sectors accounted for 2.3 % of GDP, with an annual turnover of EUR 654 billion (compared to chemicals, rubber and plastic products (2.3 % of GDP) real estate (2.1 % of GDP), food, beverage and tobacco (1.9 % of GDP). Moreover, cultural and creative industries employ at least 5.8 million people, 3.1% of total EU25 population. In addition to this direct contribution, the cultural and creative sectors have indirect impacts on the European socio-economic environment and the achievement of the Lisbon strategy. The cultural and creative sectors foster creativity and contribute to innovation in other sectors of the economy. They are crucial for the further development of ICTs, the flagship industry of
