October wrap-up: what’s shaping Cultural Policy this month

Meanwhile, the EU backed cross-border cultural cooperation. A delegation of MEPs visited Nova Gorica (SI)–Gorizia (IT) from 27–29 to mark GO2025, the first-ever “borderless” European Capital of Culture. Officials noted this dual ECoC is “a role model” showing how “culture and cooperation overcome borders and transform shared history into shared progress”.  

Finally, on October 28, the Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee examined a “Rome Manifesto” to establish a Cultural Resilience Alliance for Ukraine, underlining continued EU support for protecting and rebuilding Ukraine’s cultural heritage. 

The EU is preparing a new overarching culture strategy. The Commission plans to adopt the “Culture Compass for Europe” in Q4 2025. It will replace the 2018 Agenda for Culture and guide policy across sectors. The current Work Plan for Culture (2023–26) already defines four priorities – 1) empowering artists and creative sectors, 2) participation and access, 3) culture for the planet (sustainability), and 4) culture in EU external relations. The Work Plan explicitly addresses heritage protection from climate change, artists’ working conditions, culture’s role in health/well-being, libraries, digital transitions, and more.  

Civil society networks are also shaping the agenda. In September 2025 Culture Action Europe and partners published a sector blueprint outlining priority policy measures. They call for stronger EU safeguards for artistic freedom and cultural rights – including an “Artistic Freedom Act” and a directive on decent working conditions for the cultural sector – and for embedding culture into wider EU funds (e.g. making Creative Europe’s Culture strand visible in AgoraEU and adding culture components in Horizon and foreign policy funds). The blueprint emphasizes culture’s link to democracy, equality, and sustainability at all levels.  

Culture & sustainability 

UNESCO’s Mondiacult 2025 conference (Barcelona, 29 Sept–1 Oct) gathered 160+ governments to reaffirm culture as a “global public good” and central to sustainable development. It underscored that cultural heritage is under acute threat from climate change, disasters, conflict and trafficking; UNESCO even launched a “Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects” to document illicitly removed heritage. The conference reiterated calls to integrate culture into all policy areas - from crisis response to climate action - and to secure long-term funding towards making culture an explicit post-2030 UN development goal.

Cultural rights & freedom 

Cultural rights were a prominent theme. UNESCO statistics show 93% of countries now cite culture in development plans, yet 62% of artists worldwide report little to no protection of their economic and social rights. The Mondiacult agenda emphasised culture as a human right and driver of identity and cohesion. EU stakeholders likewise stress cultural rights: the Culture Action blueprint explicitly demands EU-level guarantees for artistic expression and equity.  

Decolonization & diversity 

Discussions of historical justice and diversity continued to influence policy. UNESCO noted a surge in cross-border heritage recognition: 51 transnational World Heritage sites and 97 shared intangible practices were inscribed in 2025. In practice, several EU countries have begun addressing colonial legacies: for example, France and Germany have prepared legislation to expedite return of colonial-era artifacts, building on earlier high-profile restitutions. The EU’s cultural diplomacy and development programs are also encouraging more inclusive narratives, reflecting the global push to decolonize museums and curricula.