European cultural networks gather in the Parliament for high-level MFF talks

On Tuesday 23 September, cultural networks in the Culture Action Europe network from across Europe gathered in Brussels to execute the next phase of their campaign actions to protect culture’s place in the next EU long-term budget (MFF). 

The European Commission unveiled the AgoraEU programme proposal in July, allocating €8.6 billion to the programme in the next EU long-term budget 2028-2034. Since then, the cultural sector has been moving forward with their advocacy to ensure the continued presence of a dedicated autonomous Creative Europe – Culture strand within the AgoraEU programme. With the goal of staying mobilised and united, actively defending the programme against potential cuts, and building strong alliances—both within the sector and across others—cultural networks have been coordinating their strategies and actions to ensure that culture remains a well-supported priority in the next EU budget, both in AgoraEU and across other EU funding programmes. 

Coordination across the sector 

Starting the morning with a meeting to coordinate next steps, organisations shared key important areas in their work that should be included in ongoing campaign messaging and actions. Luzia Moroz, Head of Policy at Culture Action Europe, also recapped the ongoing policy conversations and outlined Culture Action Europe’s position on culture funding in the next MFF. As a main point, she reiterated the need to secure the doubling of the Culture Strand funds in the AgoraEU proposal, while also exploring additional opportunities for cultural funding across diverse programmes in the next MFF.  

The networks present* echoed these priorities while adding their own perspectives. AEC and ELIA underlined the importance of arts education and maintaining cultural sovereignty within Horizon and Erasmus. Organisations from the music sector, such as EMMA, stressed the need for the continuity of successful programmes like Music Moves Europe. Networks such as IETM, Circostrada and EDN called for stronger support for artist-led and experimental projects, while On the Move placed particular emphasis on mobility, including for at-risk artists, those in overseas EU regions, and the continuation of Culture Moves Europe in a more decentralised way. EUNIC brought attention to the need for transparency and governance in the Global Europe programme, while Trans Europe Halles and Reset! highlighted important links between cultural funding, civic space and artistic freedoms.  

Culture Action Europe stressed the need to allocate 2% for culture in the National and Regional Partnership Plans, preserve a dedicated cluster for culture, humanities and artistic research in Horizon Europe, and establish a structural component for creative industries in the European Competitiveness Fund. At the same time, Luiza highlighted the importance of translating the cultural objectives of the Global Europe instrument into concrete resources through transparent governance, and argued that part of the “digital fines” collected under the Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, and AI Act should be redirected towards AgoraEU, particularly given how much big tech profits from cultural data while creators are often left unpaid. 

Concerns about the Commission’s proposed “simplification” measures were also widely voiced. Several networks argued that one reporting framework and one application system may make life harder rather than easier for cultural operators, warning that such harmonisation risks sidelining the sector’s specific needs.  

At the Parliament  

Later in the day, network leaders and representatives headed to the European Parliament to participate in the high-level roundtable, “Culture in the Next EU Budget,” hosted by the Directorate General of Communication of the European Parliament. To discuss how to bridge the gap between the Parliament’s resolution and the Commission’s proposal of the MFF, the group was joined by Members of the European Parliament (MEP):  

• Nela Riehl, German MEP of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group and chair of the CULT Committee; 

• Carla Tavares, Portuguese MEP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group and co-rapporteur of Parliament’s MFF own-initiative report, Carla Tavares; and 

• Hannes Heide, Austrian MEP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats group and CULT Committee rapporteur on the opinion of a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world. 

The exchanges shared with MEPs signalled political backing for cultural sector demands. On behalf of Culture Action Europe, Luiza Moroz reiterated that the current financial allocations of the MFF represent the bare minimum needed to sustain and develop Europe’s cultural sector. On the subject of funding, MEP Riehl stressed that “the European Parliament must ensure that no cuts are made” and MEP Hannes pledged to “fight for more budget.” Following concerns raised by cultural network representatives on the absence of earmarked funding for culture, the MEPs also voiced support for preserving a sectoral approach that reflects the specific needs of different parts of the cultural ecosystem. MEP Riehl stressed the support of the CULT Committee for earmarked funding for culture, adding that it was necessary to avoid “a challenge for smaller actors to actually access funding.”  

In one intervention, Luiza called on MEPs to support the introduction of a dedicated funding line for culture in the next Horizon Europe Programme, building on the current Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society cluster in its current iteration, and to ensure a more structured cultural component in the European Competitiveness Fund. The MEPs voiced their support for integrating culture across broader EU programmes, and MEP Tavares stressed the importance of advocating with a common voice and warned that calling for separate funding instruments could run the risk of “not hav[ing] anything in the end.” The MEPs also reiterated that both the European Parliament and Commission believe in the importance of the branding of Creative Europe and are striving to maintain its visibility in AgoraEU. 

Next steps 

Tuesday’s discussions showed a strong alignment between the cultural representatives present and our Parliamentary allies, while underscoring the need for persistent dialogue and campaigning over the months to come. As Culture Action Europe continues to pressure EU leaders to safeguard artistic freedoms and culture in Europe, including through the Ask, Pay, Trust campaign, we look forward to bringing more people on board in our advocacy and upcoming events.  

Looking ahead, the sector’s collective voice is set to become even louder next week as Culture Action Europe and its members unveil an exciting, new discussion paper delving into our shared vision for the future of the European Cultural Sector and EU cultural policies. Look out for more on our website early next week.   

Additionally, with the Council of the European Union proposing a €27.56 million cut to the 2026 financial year of the Creative Europe programme, Culture Action Europe will also share a response to the Council on why strengthening cultural funding, both in the Creative Europe programme and across other programmes, is essential to supporting Europe’s cultural ecosystem. Stay tuned! 

*CAE Networks Present

AEC, Art Cena / Circostrada, Arty Farty / Reset!, ECHO, EDN, ELIA, EMC, EMMA, ENCC, EUNIC, Europa Nostra, European Choral Association, European Festivals Association, European Theatre Convention, IETM, MCA, On the Move, Opera Europa, Pearle, Rema, Trans Europe Halles