We warmly invite you to ‘Culture: the Compass for Europe’s Future. Cultural Deal for Europe annual policy conversation‘ on February 4 2025, from 14:00h to 18:00h.
2025 marks a critical year for the European Union and its strategic direction. The Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture & Sport will lead the creation of a new strategic framework called the ‘Culture Compass,’ “to guide and harness the multiple dimensions of culture”. If culture is Europe’s guiding star, where will this new strategy take us?
At the same time, all the Commissioners are spotlighting the upcoming Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) — the EU’s new seven-year budget. They are framing it as a “simpler, more focused, and adaptable long-term budget” with the potential to bring about significant changes. Given culture’s importance to Europe, how will it fit into this crucial budget?
This year’s Cultural Deal for Europe policy conversation will tackle these questions by focusing on three main topics:
1. How can culture and cultural heritage take a leading role in shaping Europe’s future?
2. How can they foster a shared European sentiment and a common public space?
3. What steps can we take together to support a democratic, diverse, and peaceful Europe?
This is a timely conversation aligning with the start of the new European Commission and ahead of the European Parliament’s debate on the MFF. It will help prioritise culture in the EU’s legislative agenda as Europe grapples with war, division, and polarisation. For culture and cultural heritage stand as Europe’s greatest assets and are great tools to help us envision better futures for our continent. This is why Europe needs a bold new direction – a Cultural Deal for Europe.
With the participation of key policymakers from across Europe, including Glenn Micallef, the new European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Marta Cienkowska, Deputy Minister of Culture and National Heritage in Poland, Nela Riehl, Chair of the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament, Nicolas Schmit, former European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, MEPs Diana Riba I Giner (Greens, CULT Committee), Hannes Heide (S&D, CULT Committee), Zoltán Tarr (EPP, CULT Committee), Laurence Farreng (Renew, CULT Committee), Helder Sousa-Silva (EPP, BUDG Comittee) and representatives of the wider cultural and cultural heritage community, this event promises to offer an invaluable platform for conversation and policy dialogue.
