Wrap-up: KEA’s February Cultural Policy Digest

In this wrap-up, we delve into the European Commission’s latest initiative—a public consultation on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. This consultation is a pivotal moment for the future of EU funding in media, culture, and creative sectors.

We also explore the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity’s strong stance against US opposition to EU digital regulations, highlighting the ongoing battle for regulatory sovereignty. Additionally, the post covers UNESCO’s recent session on digital cultural policies, where global leaders discussed the impact of digital technology and AI on cultural diversity.

You’ll also find key takeaways from the Cultural Deal for Europe Policy Conversation 2025, emphasizing the integration of culture into broader EU policies and the call for substantial cultural investment. Lastly, commemorating the three-year mark, the wrap-up addresses the EU’s cultural response to the war in Ukraine, showcasing efforts to protect and preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage amidst conflict.

Join us as we navigate these significant developments and their implications for the future of culture in Europe.

European Commission launches consultation on future culture budget (2028-2034) 

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034, focusing on EU funding for media, culture, and creative sectors. This consultation provides an opportunity to discuss the future of the Creative Europe programme and the role of cultural funding in EU policies. 

The consultation, which closes on 6 May 2025, addresses key issues related to the implementation of EU funds, including performance, monitoring, and reporting. The EU’s long-term budget, set for seven-year periods, determines financial allocations across various policies and funding programmes. 

Recently, the Ministers of Culture from the 27 EU Member States sent a letter to the Commission expressing their strong support for Creative Europe. They emphasized the importance of maintaining EU-level support for cultural cooperation and content creation, highlighting the programme’s role in fostering artistic innovation and cultural exchange. 

The consultation targets a broad audience, including: 

• EU institutions, national and regional authorities; 
• Recipients of EU funding; 
• Citizens, businesses, SMEs, and business associations; 
• Civil society organizations, research institutions, academia, media, and think tanks; 
• International stakeholders. 

The European Commission aims to design a budget that is more focused, responsive, and aligned with the needs of cultural and creative industries. As part of this effort, the thematic consultation on “cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society” will gather insights to shape the next phase of cultural funding. 

Engagement with Cultural Stakeholders  

On the same topic, on 4 February 2025, the European Cultural Foundation, in collaboration with Culture Action Europe and Europa Nostra, hosted a high-level discussion titled ‘Culture: The Compass for Europe’s Future.’ This event marked the first major engagement between cultural leaders, policymakers, and the newly appointed European Commission and European Parliament. With over 120 in-person participants and more than 1,000 joining online, the discussion reinforced the centrality of culture in European policymaking. 

A key message from the event was the call for at least 2% of the next EU budget to be dedicated to cultural investment. Participants emphasized that culture is fundamental to democracy, inclusion, and resilience, urging EU institutions to integrate cultural funding as a strategic priority. 

As the Commission prepares its MFF proposals, the ongoing public consultation remains a crucial mechanism to advocate for cultural funding. The Culture Compass framework aims to embed culture into long-term EU policymaking, ensuring that cultural investment supports democratic values, civic participation, and access to education and creative opportunities. 

Interested stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the consultation before the 6 May deadline to help shape a budget that safeguards cultural diversity and strengthens Europe’s creative sectors. More information, key policy messages, and event materials are available at culturaldeal.eu. 

UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee Reviews Digital Cultural Policies 

From 10 to 14 February 2025, Paris hosted the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The session brought together all States Parties to discuss key developments in cultural policy, particularly in the digital environment. 

As part of the session, the International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) organized a side event on 12 February titled ‘Promoting our Cultures in the Digital Age.’ The event, attended by UNESCO Deputy Director-General Ernesto Ottone, focused on the recommendations put forward by the UNESCO expert group on the diversity of cultural expressions in the digital environment. A key proposal was the development of an additional protocol to the 2005 Convention, aimed at incorporating specific provisions addressing digital technology and artificial intelligence. 

On 13 February, the States Parties formally reviewed these recommendations. While the additional protocol was not adopted at this stage, many States acknowledged the urgent need to protect creators and authors amid rapid digital transformations, particularly concerning the risks posed by generative AI. This issue will be revisited at the next Conference of the Parties (COP) in June 2025, where a detailed action plan for implementing the ten recommendations will be presented with greater civil society involvement.

The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee also included a broader review of expert recommendations on cultural diversity in the digital sphere. The decision to advance these recommendations marks a step forward in shaping digital policies that support cultural diversity. The importance of ongoing civil society consultation was emphasized throughout the discussions. 

The IFCCD has compiled a report on its participation in this session, underscoring its commitment to advancing global cultural diversity in the digital era, access it here.  

European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity express concerns over US opposition to EU digital regulations 

Also in February, the European Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (ECCD) voiced their deep concern over the United States’ decision to challenge European Union digital regulations. The ECCD issued a press release in response to a memorandum signed on 21 February by the President of the United States, which called for the renewal of investigations into digital services taxes (DSTs) under Section 301 of the US Trade Act. 

The memorandum argued that digital services taxes imposed by foreign governments disproportionately affected American companies and directed the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate these policies. Under Section 301, the USTR has the authority to impose tariffs or other restrictions on imports if it determines that foreign regulations are discriminatory or burdensome to US commerce. Additionally, the memorandum indicated that foreign governments implementing regulations such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) could face scrutiny if they were perceived as coercing US businesses or dictating their interactions with consumers in the EU. 

The ECCD strongly opposed this position, viewing it as an aggressive challenge to the EU’s regulatory sovereignty. The coalition emphasized that the DMA and DSA, along with other EU digital regulations, were designed to create a fair and transparent environment for all digital companies operating within the Union, regardless of their country of origin. Furthermore, the ECCD rejected claims that these regulations hindered freedom of expression or unfairly targeted American companies, stating that they applied equally to all businesses and aimed to uphold fundamental EU values, including the promotion of cultural diversity.

In response to what it perceived as unjustified pressure, the ECCD urged the European Commission, the Council of the European Union, and the European Parliament to reaffirm their commitment to fair and balanced digital regulations. The coalition called for the preservation of policies that promote cultural diversity and rejected any attempts to dismantle democratically established frameworks regulating the digital economy. 

Given the ongoing transformation of cultural sectors through digital technology and artificial intelligence, the ECCD stressed the need for Europe to remain a stronghold for diverse creative expression. The coalition pledged to remain vigilant and active in defending these principles against external pressures and deregulation efforts. 

Access the full press-release here.  

Insights from the Cultural Deal for Europe Policy Conversation 2025 

On 4 February 2025 at Bozar, Culture Action Europe, Europa Nostra, and European Cultural Foundation hosted the annual policy conversation ‘Culture: The Compass for Europe’s Future’ as the first public discussion on the EU’s future ‘Culture Compass’  – a strategic framework announced by the President of the European Commission, ahead of the European Parliament’s debate on the EU’s upcoming budget conversation (the Multi-Annual Financial Framework). 

The discussion revolved around the Cultural Deal for Europe, a call to prioritize culture in EU policies, develop a robust culture strategy, and allocate 2% of EU funding to culture. 

The event featured Commissioner for Culture Glenn Micallef, Members of the European Parliament, the CULT Committee Chair Nela Riehl, the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, cultural attachés from EU Member States, and representatives of European cultural networks and organizations. Over 120 participants engaged on-site, with 1,000 more joining online. 

Key Takeaways: 

• Integrating culture into broader EU policies: Culture should be embedded in flagship EU policies beyond the cultural sector, including research, skills development, security, and AI regulation. Despite widespread recognition of culture’s importance, official EU documents often overlook its role. 
• Culture as a pillar of democratic resilience: The cultural sector must remain sustainable, ensuring fair pay for artists, autonomy for cultural organizations, and structural support for grassroots cultural projects. There is a growing call for Artistic Freedom to be explicitly included in the EU’s Rule of Law Report. 
• Learning from Eastern Europe’s cultural Resilience: The EU should support cultural actors in candidate and neighboring countries like Georgia, Serbia, and Ukraine, where culture plays a key role in defending democratic values. Calls were made to allocate 2% of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine’s cultural recovery. 
• The future of the Culture Compass: The Culture Compass, the EU’s strategic framework for culture, should ensure that Creative Europe remains strong and well-funded while maintaining cultural components across other policy areas. The European Commission emphasized that culture mainstreaming should be expanded and better financed. 
• Culture as the essence of Europe: Culture is not merely an economic asset but a foundation for freedom and democracy. The EU’s cultural policies should foster creation as an act of transcendence and imagination, strengthening Europe’s values in the global landscape. 

The Policy Conversation underscored the urgent need to translate cultural advocacy into concrete policy decisions. As the EC moves forward with the Culture Compass and the next MFF, stakeholders must continue pushing for a well-funded, strategically embedded cultural agenda.

Speech by Commissioner Micallef during his visit to Ukraine at the Culture Conference: Cooperation for Resilience 

During his recent visit to Ukraine for the Culture Conference: Cooperation for Resilience, European Commissioner for Culture Glenn Micallef delivered a powerful speech on the critical role of culture in times of war. Speaking at the panel discussion Culture as a Component of National Security: Joint Steps for the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage in Ukraine, the Commissioner emphasized that culture is not only a reflection of identity but also a crucial pillar of resilience, unity, and national security. 

“Culture may seem intangible, but it is one of the most powerful forces that bind societies together,” Commissioner Micallef stated. “It fosters resilience, rebuilds communities, reinforces our identities, and provides a sense of belonging even in the darkest times.” 

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, more than 1,200 cultural heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed. The Commissioner unequivocally condemned these attacks as an attempt to erase Ukrainian culture and history. “The destruction of cultural heritage is a deliberate act of war, an assault on the very soul of a nation,” he declared, reaffirming the European Union’s steadfast support for Ukraine. 

The EU’s Cultural Response to the War 

As part of its commitment to protecting Ukrainian culture, the EU has mobilized approximately €37 million in support of Ukraine’s cultural and creative sectors. These funds have been directed towards: 

• Emergency responses to safeguard cultural heritage; 
• Translation of Ukrainian and European literature; 
• Financial aid for Ukrainian artists and cultural professionals; 
• Digitization of cultural archives to prevent loss; 
• Combating the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. 

Moreover, Ukraine’s full membership in the EU’s Creative Europe programme has opened new avenues for financial and institutional support. A dedicated €5 million call for Ukrainian cultural and creative sectors remains open, with additional efforts underway to establish mobility schemes for artists at risk. 

Recognizing the threat posed by the smuggling and removal of cultural goods, the EU has also taken decisive action. The 14th sanctions package explicitly prohibits the unlawful removal of Ukrainian cultural assets. Additionally, the EU has invested over €800,000 in a new partnership with the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to combat cultural trafficking. 

Cultural Recovery as a Pillar of Post-War Reconstruction 

With Ukraine’s recovery in focus ahead of the Rome Recovery Conference in July, Commissioner Micallef underscored that culture must be an integral part of rebuilding a free, democratic, and sustainable Ukraine. The recently launched Cultural Ramstein initiative, a platform for international cultural cooperation, will play a vital role in coordinating these efforts. 

“Culture is more than a source of national pride—it is a unifying force, offering continuity and meaning in times of uncertainty,” Micallef stated. “Let us cherish, protect, and invest in Ukrainian cultural heritage, recognizing it as the foundation for resilience, regional development, and social cohesion.” 

The Commissioner concluded by calling on the international community to deepen its commitment to safeguarding Ukrainian culture as a fundamental part of European heritage. 

Structured Dialogue with Commissioner Glenn Micallef 

On 19 February, the Committee on Culture and Education held its first structured dialogue with Commissioner Micallef. The discussions focused, among others, on the implementation of ‘youth checks’ in the Annual Work Programme 2025, the Culture Compass, the European Sport Model, the action plan against cyberbullying and the Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness.