La cultura-diritto sociale: il soft law dell’Unione Europea alla prova delle città

di Maria Francesca De Tullio

SOMMARIO: 1. Introduzione. – 2. La tutela costituzionale della cultura nelle fonti di diritto interno. – 2.1. L’oggetto e il contenuto della tutela. – 2.2. Il soggetto autore della tutela. – 3. Il diritto sociale cultura nelle fonti dell’Unione Europea. – 3.1. Fonti dell’Unione Europea e diritto interno. – 3.2. Fonti dell’Unione Europea e diritti sociali. – 3.3. Cultura nelle fonti dell’UE, partecipazione e inclusione. – 4. Ripensare i programmi europei per l’inclusione. – 5. Conclusioni.

The research explores how culture can be safeguarded and promoted as a social right, in a context of economic crisis. Since 2008, and even more with the Covid-19 crisis, austerity measures have negatively affected culture, among other social rights. European Union has a supporting competence on the sector and engages in meaningful funding programs. Though, the relevant budget appears to be insufficient to ensure the sustainability of cultural work. This unveils a policy approach that tends to favour culture as an instrument and completion for economic development, rather than as an intrinsic value. In this field, the paper analyses the impact of European Union normative acts at local level, both as supporting tools, and as a new legal system, bringing different values in the internal one. In particular, the aim is to draw recommendations to both levels – the EU and local one – to make both decision-making and funding programs more accessible, following the values of inclusion and social cohesion.