Abstract

The Author welcomes the recent jaiming of the E.U. by the new European democracies, whose contribution to European culture has been so significant in the past. The Italian Cultural Institutes could play a relevant role in supporting a better knowledge and diffusion of the cultural heritage of these countries in Western Europe. In order to be able to cope with the new international challenges posed by the increasing mondialisation of culture, the Institutes would need, though an in depth restructuring in their managing system and their mission. A closer co-operation with the E.U. - whose institutional framework would be strong enough to allow it to meet these challenges - should also be supported.