MANILA, Philippines — The European Union National Institutes for Culture, (EUNIC) Cluster Philippines, which will help broaden and improve the cultural programs of both the Cultural Institutes as well as the EU Embassies in Manila, was formally signed Thursday afternoon at the Alliance Française de Manille in Bel-Air, Makati City.

The signing was participated in by Italian Ambassador to the Philippines Luca Fornari, Alliance Française de Manille board of directors president Deanna Ongpin-Recto and Goethe Institut director Richard Kuenze and was witnessed by Philippine-Italian Association president Nelly Tantoco.

According to Ambassador Fornari the creation of the EUNIC Cluster Philippines will set up a strong partnership and network as well as build cultural relations between Europe and the host country.

The Italian envoy said the assumption of President Aquino has "opened wide" the doors of partnership as he noted the keen interest showed by both the private and business sector in promoting cultural activities between EU and the Philippines.

Although the EUNIC Cluster Philippines was initially founded by the Goethe Institut of Manila, the Philippine-Italian Association and the Alliance Francaise de Manille, it will welcome future members among European cultural institutes and embassies.

EUNIC was established to create effective partnerships and networks between the participating organizations, to improve and promote cultural diversity and understanding between European societies, and to strengthen international dialogue and co-operation with countries outside Europe.

The EUNIC membership currently includes organizations from 25 EU countries.

The total operating budget of the current EUNIC membership is 2.2 billion euro per annum.

It operates at two complementary levels. The first level consists of the Heads or Directors General of the national institutions. The second level comprises clusters of national institutions for culture, based in cities across the world, cooperating in common projects.