​During the second day of the European Committee of the Regions' 129th plenary session, members held a debate with Mr Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Luca Jahier, newly-elected president of the European Economic and Social Committee and Ms Petra Kammerevert, chair of the CULT Committee of the European Parliament.

During the debate, EA Group President Karl Vanlouwe stressed the need to scale-up the promotion of Europe's cultural and linguistic heritage in all its diversity because, in his words, "we don't actually own our heritage, we merely take care of it for the next generations." As an example, he called for a stronger promotion of domestic TV programmes which in many countries suffer because of the influence of foreign-produced, in the first place US content.

On 4 June, European Alliance Group will organise a seminar on the promotion of cultural and linguistic heritage of Europe, with prominent speakers from EU institutions and international organisations, as well as local practitioners from all parts of Europe.