The EU contributes to the culture of its member states while respecting their diversity and highlighting their shared cultural heritage. Key areas of focus include improving knowledge of European cultures and history, preserving cultural heritage, cultural exchanges, and artistic creation. Member states are encouraged to cooperate on cultural matters and consider culture in other policy areas. The EU provides funding and support for cultural cooperation, mobility programs, television and film production, and innovation across cultural sectors. Mainstreaming culture into other programs involves development aid, foreign policy, and cooperation with neighboring countries. Upcoming priorities include the results of European elections and negotiations on future funding programs and regional strategies.

1. EU Cultural Policy
DG Education and Culture

2. Legal basis: Article 167 TFEU
The Union shall contribute to the flowering of the cultures of the Member
States, while respecting their national and regional diversity and at the
same time bringing the common cultural heritage to the fore.
Encouraging cooperation between Member States and, if necessary,
supporting and supplementing their action…
• improvement of the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the
European peoples,
• conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance,
• non-commercial cultural exchanges,
• artistic and literary creation, including in the audiovisual sector.
EU and MS to foster cooperation with third countries and the competent
international organisations in the sphere of culture,
Union shall take cultural aspects into account in its action under
other provisions of the Treaties, in particular in order to respect
and to promote the diversity of its cultures,
EP and Council shall adopt incentive measures, excluding any
harmonisation of the laws and regulations of the Member States

3. Education
and Culture
Culture is gaining momentum
• Nov 2017 Gothenburg: First discussion of EU heads of
states or government on culture (”Leaders’ agenda”)
• Commission’s contribution: Communication
'Strengthening European identity through
education and culture'

4. Policy and funding

5. Education
and Culture
Dec 2017: European Council tasking the EU to
• do more through culture and education
• build cohesive societies
• offer a vision of an attractive society and EU
May 2018: Commission Communication "New
European Agenda for Culture"
New European Agenda for Culture

6. Education
and Culture
The political ambition
Objectives:
• Harness the power of culture and
cultural diversity for social
cohesion and well-being
• Support jobs and growths and
creative sectors
• Strengthen international cultural
relations
25 actions, five dimensions:
• Social, Economic, External,
Cultural heritage, Digital4Culture

7. Education
and Culture
Council Work Plan 2019-2021
• Sustainability in cultural heritage
• Cohesion and well-being
• An ecosystem supporting artists, cultural and creative
professionals and European content
• Gender equality
• International cultural relations
https://ec.europa.eu/culture/news/2018/new-work-plan-culture-start-
2019_en

8. Education
and Culture
Growing recognition of culture in external
dimension
2016 Joint Communication "Towards an EU strategy for
international cultural relations"
• EU established a framework for cultural cooperation with partner
countries
2016 Global Strategy for the European Unions Foreign and
Security Policy
• Identified cultural diplomacy as a new field for EU joined-up external
actions
2017 New European Consensus on Development
• Recognised the role of culture as an important component and enabler
2018 New European Agenda on Culture
• Culture: vector of ID and cohesion, driver of socio-eco development

10. CULTURE
SUB-PROGRAMME
• Cooperation projects
• Literary translation
projects
• Networks
• Platforms
2014-2020

11. CROSS-SECTORAL STRAND
• €121m for a Guarantee Fund to
facilitate loans to cultural and creative
enterprises and organisations
• Support for piloting projects bridging
different cultural and creative sectors
PRIZES
• Literature, architecture, heritage care,
music
EUROPEAN CAPITALS OF CULTURE
2014-2020

12. Education
and Culture
Commission
proposes increased
budget for Creative
Europe 2021-2027

13. New Creative Europe: What’s new?
Culture
§ Focus on the economic, social and international dimensions of culture.
§ A new sectorial approach adding up on horizontal actions (e.g. music)
§ A dedicated scheme to promote mobility of artists and cultural/creative operators.
MEDIA
§ Emphasis on high quality TV drama series, animation, digital content.
§ More training opportunities for professionals to adapt to the transformations facing
the sector.
§ Cooperation and networks to boost theatrical and online distribution.
Cross sectoral strand
§ More opportunities for out-of-the-box thinking and innovation across sectors
§ More stability of funding for actions supporting free, diverse, and pluralistic media &
media literacy
§ Financial instruments to be supported through Invest EU

14. Education
and Culture
Mainstreaming Culture in other programmes
• DG Education and Culture –Creative Europe Programme (EU,
Western Balkans, EU Neighbourhoods EAST and South)
• DG DEVCO – Development Cooperation Instrument, regional and
country-based assistance
• EEAS – EU Strategic Approach to Cultural Relations, Foreign
Policy Instrument (FPI)
• DG NEAR – Neighbourhood Instrument, Instrument for pre-
accession Assistance

15. Education
and Culture
What’s next?
• European Parliament Elections
• Multi-annual Financial Framework to be agreed
• New programmes and instruments to be agreed
• New regional programmes developed and/or old programmes
continued
• Regional Strategies defined
...and so much more....

16. Thank you!