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European Cultural Foundation

ECF

European Cultural Foundation is an independent foundation based in the Netherlands founded in 1954 and operating across Europe for 70 years.

Lobbying Activity

Response to A Culture Compass for Europe

27 May 2025

A Culture Compass for Europe must be more than an agenda, a roadmap, or a strategy. It must unfold an ambitious vision for Europe to which citizens can relate to, providing hope, inspiration and direction. Such a vision must embody Europe's key principles of democracy, solidarity, sustainability and diversity. The Culture Compass for Europe must provide the framework in which culture is: a) fully valued for its intrinsic value; b) recognised for its vital contribution to other EU policies (incl. security, social cohesion, digital, social and ecological transformation, international relations); c) substantially upgraded (EU positioning and funding) to become a key asset for the EU at home and in the world. As internal and external pressures threaten the European Unions peace and fundamental values, and destabilise our democratic systems, Europes greatest strength lies in its rich culture and heritage. These are the foundations that will empower us to actively reimagine and rebuild a more inclusive, democratic and united Europe one that embraces both its current and aspiring members. To secure its future, the EU must underpin its future internal and external actions by a strong cultural vision. The Culture Compass must include a Cultural Deal for Europe! The current geopolitical and political context demands that the Compass addresses the following challenges: democracy, security, and sustainability. The Culture Compass must galvanise all positive European forces and promote a coalition of the willing, allowing innovative partnerships of public, private and philanthropic actors to address forcefully together the challenges of our times. In a time of increasing demands for EU resources to meet the global and local uncertainties, matched with shrinking national budgets for culture, we need to mobilise and consolidate the impact of philanthropy for Europe. A Cultural Deal can deliver scale and impact of EU action, if backed up by a robust public-philanthropic partnership that imagines philanthropy for Europe. The Culture Compass should promote a wide understanding of Europe (not confined to the EU borders) and connect the EU's internal and external dimensions to promote fundamental values through culture. It should combine long-term vision and preparedness for emergencies readiness to respond to crisis & flexibility of funding tools, e.g. a built-in emergency mechanism (some of them could mobilise together public, private and philanthropic resources). Become a living framework and be co-created and co-shaped/updated regularly with cultural stakeholders, through a meaningful structural dialogue with the cultural ecosystem and the civil society. We recommend: 1) Culture and cultural heritage to become pillars of the European Democracy Shield, preventing further shrinking of civic spaces and threats to fundamental rights, including the freedom of expression. to unlock Europes cultural power, EU must invest in physical and digital spaces that defend democracy. 2) Culture to be positioned in the EUs security dimension, international relations and diplomacy; 3) Culture to be strengthened as a driver of sustainable development and well-being, not only as an instrument, but as a core agent for change. 4) To be forward looking, the Compass should encourage involvement of public, private and philanthropic players in the field, as well as strategic alignment and pooling of their resources for common European purposes. In the attached full statement, we provide a number of resources and evidence in support of the above suggestions. Last, but not least, to become a robust strategic framework for Europe and to deliver on its ambitions, the Culture Compass must be equipped with a significantly increased financial envelope for culture. We propose a minimum of 2% from the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) to be allocated to culture, which should include a standalone programme for culture (Creative Europe).
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Meeting with Glenn Micallef (Commissioner) and

20 Mar 2025 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Laurence Farreng (Member of the European Parliament) and Europa Nostra and Culture Action Europe

4 Feb 2025 · Evénement "A New Cultural Deal for Europe"

Meeting with Nela Riehl (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

2 Dec 2024 · European Cultural Foundation & CULT

Meeting with Reinier Van Lanschot (Member of the European Parliament) and European Council on Foreign Relations

2 Oct 2024 · EU identities, cultures and (de)polarisation

Meeting with Laurence Farreng (Member of the European Parliament) and Society of Audiovisual Authors and

17 Jul 2024 · Politique culturelle et nouveau mandat du Parlement européen

Meeting with Francisco José Millán Mon (Member of the European Parliament) and Europa Nostra and Culture Action Europe

17 Jul 2024 · European Cultural Policy: European Cultural Routes, Ways of Saint James, Education

Meeting with Christian Ehler (Member of the European Parliament) and Von Beust & Coll. Beratungsges. mbH & Co KG

20 Sept 2023 · General Exchange

Meeting with Sergey Lagodinsky (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Sept 2023 · Philantrophic Foundations in the EU

Meeting with Sabine Verheyen (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

28 Feb 2023 · Cultural Policy

Meeting with Margaritis Schinas (Vice-President) and

28 Feb 2023 · Initiatives of the European Cultural Foundation

Meeting with Mariya Gabriel (Commissioner)

5 Jun 2020 · EU measures in favour of the cultural and creatives sector

Meeting with Bernd Biervert (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)

18 Apr 2017 · Clean Energy transition in South-Eastern Europe, EU-India relations

Meeting with Alicja Magda Herbowska (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

4 Apr 2016 · Culture

Meeting with Adrienn Kiraly (Cabinet of Commissioner Tibor Navracsics)

16 Jul 2015 · Exchange of views and priorities