Yesterday in Brussels, we attended the Culture Deal conference, where discussions centered on the EU budget, European strategic priorities, and the role of the Culture Compass for Europe in strengthening democracy and European identity.
The event, organized by Culture Action Europe, brought together cultural sector professionals, civil society representatives, Members of the European Parliament, and cultural leaders from across the member states. Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, participated in the debates, emphasizing the need for a shared and ambitious vision for culture at the European level.
In his address, the Commissioner presented the Culture Compass for Europe as a pivotal strategy for defending democratic values, improving working conditions for artists, managing the impact of artificial intelligence on the cultural sector, and boosting public investment in culture within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). He stressed the necessity of a firm political commitment that recognizes culture not merely as an economic sector, but as essential democratic infrastructure.
Another key topic was the proposal to allocate 2% of the EU budget to culture, a goal supported by numerous cultural actors and MEPs alike. Participants pointed out that reaching this target requires integrating culture across all European policies and various budget lines, rather than limiting it to culture-specific programs.
Throughout the sessions, speakers highlighted culture’s role in fostering democratic resilience, artistic freedom, and social cohesion, as well as the importance of bringing art and culture into the daily lives of European citizens. To this end, the conference emphasized the need for the cultural sector to unite, transforming this shared vision into a concrete and lasting political commitment at the European level.
