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An elevated, high-angle view of the image shows a large, circular conference hall with wooden flooring and multiple tiers of seating where numerous people are seated at desks equipped with monitors. A giant, ring-shaped light fixture hangs from the concentric wooden ceiling directly over the center of the room. Digital display screens are mounted on the upper wooden walls, overlooking the formal meeting of the European Council.

16 June 2026

The Council’s MFF budget proposal: bad news for AgoraEU

The Council has unveiled its proposed budget allocations for the 2028-2034 MFF and it’s bad news for culture, including a 33% reduction in budget for AgoraEU compared to the Parliament’s position. It is vital that the European Parliament’s budgetary proposal of €10.72 billion is treated as the bare minimum in negotiations in order to sustain the cultural and creative sectors. Read more

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29 May 2026

Reading between the strands: AgoraEU after Parliament and Council

Culture Action Europe calls for an AgoraEU that covers all cultural and creative sectors fairly, protects the cross-sectoral nature of European cultural cooperation, and provides more ambitious funding for culture as a whole. Where sectors have specific needs, they must be addressed consistently, not selectively, across various sectors. Read more

An image with a bright yellow background features the bold text "POLICY PILL: WHAT'S NEW WITH AGORAEU, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?" with "POLICY PILL:" highlighted on a light pink rectangle. In the top left corner, a purple square displays the text "ASK PAY TRUST" in yellow, while the top right corner includes a small logo that reads "Powered by: Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts."

5 May 2026

What’s new with AgoraEU, and why does it matter?

As the trilogues approach, the European Parliament is consolidating its positions on key funding programmes shaping the next MFF. Among them, AgoraEU stands out as a central framework for supporting culture and socially impactful projects, raising questions about what’s new and why it matters. Read more

A wide shot from the back of a large press room shows three people standing at white podiums in front of a blue backdrop labeled "European Parliament." Numerous journalists are seated at long yellow desks in the foreground, facing the speakers with laptops open. The room is modern and brightly lit by rows of long, parallel ceiling lights.

15 April 2026

European Parliament proposes a budgetary increase for AgoraEU

The Interim Report of the European Parliament on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has been adopted with an increased budget proposed for the AgoraEU programme. Read more and learn our reaction in this piece. Read more

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14 April 2026

Culture is being erased from EU research and innovation funding. How do we save it?

The next Horizon Europe programme (2028–2034) is being shaped right now, and culture is disappearing from its architecture. Read what Culture Action Europe, as part of the Artistic Research Alliance, is calling for in terms of amendments to the Parliament’s draft report. Read more

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24 February 2026

Compete to Create: How the EU’s Budget Is Debuffing Creative Industries

No support for creative industries in the next EU budget? The new MFF proposal debuffs support for the more economic dimensions of culture, its digitalisation and financial tools that help creative businesses grow, merging these into the European Competitiveness Fund which barely mentions creative sectors. What does this mean moving forward? Read more

 

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24 February 2026

AgoraEU Updates: What Are the Council and Parliament Preparing?

Ahead of the Cultural Deal for Europe Policy Conversation on 3 February 2026, Culture Action Europe shares the latest updates on the status of AgoraEU negotiations as part of the next long-term EU budget. Read more

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6 January 2026

Digital Fines to Fund Culture: Will Parliament Act?

We proposes that the European Commission uses part of the digital fines collected from the enforcement of EU digital regulation to fund culture. Learn why using digital fines to fund culture is a good idea, how this could be done, and what nuances should be taken into account here. Read more

A pink-toned photo of a table featuring a booklet titled Culture Compass for Europe—an EU publication on cultural policy—alongside handwritten notes, illustrated pages, and a box that reads “TAKE ACTION” with a QR code.

13 November 2025

The EU’s new culture strategy is out. Culture Action Europe unpacks!

The European Commission has adopted the Culture Compass for Europe, the first EU-wide strategy for culture in nearly a decade. Read Culture Action Europe’s detailed analysis. Read more

29 September 2025

Culture Action Europe unveils its blueprint for future cultural policies in Europe

Culture Action Europe is proud to present ‘Towards the Culture Compass: A Sector Blueprint’: a discussion paper resulting from the joint efforts of 30 cross-border European cultural networks, aiming to propose a direction for European cultural policies. Read more

A stylized, blue and pink-toned image of President Ursula von der Leyen speaking at a podium in the European Parliament hemicycle. The chamber is full, with rows of seated members, large digital display panels, and curved architectural lighting overhead. The speaker stands in the foreground, facing the audience, with one hand gesturing.

8 September 2025

CAE to von der Leyen: “Take these arguments into account as you prepare for SOTEU”

As the European Union prepares for the 2025 State of the Union address this week, Culture Action Europe has written to President Ursula von der Leyen. Read more

Image: Alain ROLLAND; Copyright: © European Union 2023 – Source : European Parliament.

A woman with long hair, wearing a light-colored shirt, writes on a large blue wall with a pen under blue lighting. Her shadow is cast clearly on the wall. Faint handwritten messages and names are visible across the surface.

14 July 2025

With days before budget draft, CAE again calls on Ursula von der Leyen

Culture Action Europe has sent a letter to President Ursula von der Leyen and Commissioner Piotr Serafin, reiterating our call for a bold commitment to a standalone Creative Europe, including a budget of 2% of the EU’s next long-term budget post-2027. Read more

A colourful collage of overlapping posters in neon pink, yellow, orange, and green tones, each featuring bold text in various languages including English, Dutch, and French. Phrases such as “ASK PAY TRUST,” “VRAAG BETAAL VERTROUW,” and “INTERROGER RÉTRIBUER CROIRE” are prominently printed, along with QR codes and the tagline “THE ARTIST” or “DE KUNSTENAARS / LES ARTISTES.”

11 July 2025

CAE Hubs send letters to national finance ministers ahead of MFF

The Ask, Pay, Trust campaign called for the coordination of sending letters to national finance ministers in support of the Creative Europe programme.  Read more

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9 May 2025

Culture Action Europe calls on Ursula von der Leyen to keep a standalone Creative Europe

Today, Culture Action Europe, on behalf of the 280 cultural networks, organisations, artists, and activists from 35 European countries in our network, sent a letter to President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, sharing our position on Creative Europe ahead of the Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework. We believe the EU’s next long-term budget should maintain a standalone culture funding stream, namely the Creative Europe programme. Read our full letter…

Graphic banner with three vertical color panels, each featuring the bold campaign slogan “ASK PAY TRUST” in all caps, stacked over three lines: Left panel: pale pink background with orange text Center panel: neon yellow background with black text Right panel: bright orange background with purple text

November 18, 2024

Ask, pay, trust the artist

Culture can only foster resilience if it is resilient itself. When we invest in and trust the arts, we are not only nurturing creativity – we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more resilient society. Read more

🗄️ Other Highlights

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AgoraEU Creative Europe – Culture strand Stakeholder Consultation Culture is being erased from EU research and innovation funding. How do we save it? European Parliament proposes a budgetary increase for AgoraEU Reading between the strands: AgoraEU after Parliament and Council The Council’s MFF budget proposal: bad news for AgoraEU
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News
European Parliament proposes a budgetary increase for AgoraEU Reading between the strands: AgoraEU after Parliament and Council Culture is being erased from EU research and innovation funding. How do we save it? The Council’s MFF budget proposal: bad news for AgoraEU EU leaders sign ambitious Joint Declaration on Culture
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