DIVERSITATEA CULTURALÃ ȘI „UNIȚI ÎN DIVERSITATE”: VALORI FUNDAMENTALE ALE DREPTULUI UNIUNII EUROPENE ÎNAINTE ȘI DUPÃ LISABONA

The aim of this paper is to identify how and if cultural diversity, as a fundamental and moral value of the EU, is effectively protected by EU law. I will start from the EU competences on cultural matters and try to find out if, while dealing with cultural issues, the EU is actually protecting its “unity without uniformity” and its “diversity without fragmentation”. The recent and stronger intervention of the EU in cultural matters, after Lisbon, raises questions as to its real aims, be it the building of a stronger and stronger “small common denominator” in cultural issues as well, by means of uniformity or the real protection of cultural diversity of its Member States.