Culture: the Compass for Europe’s Future. Cultural Deal for Europe Annual Policy Conversation
10 Feb 2025
How can culture shape the future of Europe? This question took centre stage on 4 February 2025 at Bozar, where cultural leaders, policymakers, and civil society gathered for the first public event to engage with the newly installed European Commission and Parliament on the proposed Culture Compass. This annual policy conversation—Culture: The Compass for Europe’s Future—came just ahead of the European Parliament’s debate on the EU’s long-term budget, the Multi-Annual Financial Framework.
From the stories we tell to the spaces where we gather, culture is where democracy is protected, where economic resilience takes root, and where communities build strength in times of crisis. The Culture Compass is a strategic framework designed to integrate culture into Europe’s long-term policies, ensuring it plays a central role in shaping the continent’s future. A key message echoed throughout the discussion: culture and cultural heritage must be placed at the heart of EU policies, with a commitment to allocate at least 2% of the next EU budget to these areas. This investment is about more than supporting the arts—it is about strengthening democracy, security, and sustainability across Europe.
The conversation brought together key voices in European policy and culture, with over 120 participants attending in person and more than 1,000 joining online. Among them were Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture & Sport; Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education; and four Members of the European Parliament—Laurence Farreng, Hannes Heide, Zoltan Tarr, and Helder Sousa-Silva—representing the Committees on Culture and Budget. Representatives from the EU Council Presidency were also present, including Poland’s Deputy Minister for Culture and Heritage, Marta Cienkowska. The strong engagement, both in the room and online, sent a clear message: culture is not just a reflection of Europe’s past—it is the key to its future. Now, the work begins. The next step is securing real commitments.
The discussion was not limited to policymakers. City representatives, civil society leaders, and emerging artists such as Leander Emanuel and Sam Vassallo contributed their perspectives. Voices from Ukraine, Georgia, and Serbia ensured the conversation reflected the diverse realities of cultural life across Europe.
As one of the initiators of the Cultural Deal for Europe, the European Cultural Foundation extends our deepest thanks to our partners, Culture Action Europe and Europa Nostra, for their continued collaboration in championing culture as a cornerstone of Europe’s future. We are also grateful to the Centre for Fine Arts Brussels – Bozar for hosting this important conversation. Follow the Cultural Deal for Europe on Bluesky and on LinkedIn.
You can download the key policy messages from the event via the button:
