Culture Compass for Europe
The Culture Compass for Europe is a strategic document released by the European Commission on 12 November 2025 to strengthen the EU policy framework for culture. It outlines 20 flagship actions to be implemented over the coming years, guiding EU policies in four specific directions:
- An EU that upholds and strengthens European values and cultural rights;
- An EU that empowers artists and cultural professionals, and supports people;
- An EU that draws on culture and cultural heritage to become more competitive, resilient and cohesive;
- An EU that champions international cultural relations and partnerships.
Among other actions, the European Commission outlines its plan in the Culture Compass for:
- a periodic Report on the State of Culture in the EU;
- an EU structured dialogue on culture; and
- an EU cultural data hub.
It is accompanied by a proposal for a Joint Declaration entitled ‘Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe’ to be jointly agreed upon by EU institutions. It outlines “a long-term strategic vision to place culture at the heart of Europe’s identity, emphasising the importance of culture for individuals, communities and the EU, and strengthening cultural rights and principles.”
Culture Action Europe’s next steps
Stay tuned for Culture Action Europe’s analysis, as we assess what it means for culture and how closely it aligns with the vision of European cultural networks in the Sector Blueprint discussion paper.
We’ll be hosting a campaign meeting on 19 November to go into the document in detail. Register here.