The Czech Presidency of the EU and EC are to officially launch the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009 on Wednesday with the slogan "Imagine. Create. Innovate."
The aim of the initiative is to promote creative and innovative approaches in different sectors of human activity and help equip the European Union for the challenges ahead in a globalised world, the Commission said.
"This European Year is a horizontal, cross-cutting exercise involving many areas. Apart from education and culture, it involves enterprise, regional and research policies, social and employment policies, energy, transport, environment and the information society," European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, Jan Figel commented.
According to the EC, the European Year of Innovation and Creativity (EYCI) has acquired a special meaning in the context of the current economic slowdown - the message it should convey is that Europe should not react to the crisis by reducing investment into skills and innovation.