In a letter addressed to President Roberta Metsola, Culture Action Europe and Europa Nostra have called for the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) to take the lead on the EU’s proposed AgoraEU programme.
AgoraEU is the European Commission’s submitted successor to the Creative Europe programme, which has supported thousands of artists, filmmakers, and cultural projects across the continent. The new programme aims to streamline funding across culture, media, and civic engagement, integrating strands like Creative Europe – Culture, MEDIA+, and CERV+ (Citizens, Equality, Rights, and Values).
While addressing the CULT committee at the European Parliament on the 20th of October, exchange of views, Commissioner Glenn Micallef portrayed AgoraEU as a program “that is rooted in the belief that culture is a fundamental for stability, for democracy and also for resilience” as he pointed out. The budget for AgoraEU totals €8.6 billion, with approximately €2 billion allocated to the cultural strand.
The two organizations argue that CULT is the only committee with the expertise and mandate to oversee a programme that is 60% cultural in budget and two-thirds cultural in structure. They warn that fragmented oversight could lead to inconsistent funding rules, bureaucratic delays, and a loss of trust among Europe’s creative communities.
The urgency is underscored by the explosive demand for current cultural funding. In the latest Creative Europe – Culture call, 1,663 proposals were submitted, but only 10–15% are expected to be funded, leaving hundreds of high-quality projects unfunded. The European Parliament is expected to assign lead committees for the next EU budget cycle in the coming weeks, and the cultural sector is watching closely.
Image Credit: European Parliament
