Op-Ed: Why the EU Must Invest in Culture

Culture shapes how people relate to one another, how societies imagine their future, and how democratic life is sustained. In a new op-ed for The Parliament, Lars Ebert, Secretary-General of Culture Action Europe, Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary-General of Europa Nostra, and André Wilkens, Director of the European Cultural Foundation, argue that the European Union must treat culture as a strategic priority within its next long-term budget.

The European Commission’s proposed Culture Compass marks a long-awaited policy shift, recognising culture as a pillar of democratic resilience, artists’ rights and participation. The authors argue that this framework now needs to be translated into a Cultural Deal for Europe, embedding culture across key EU instruments, including competitiveness, research, cohesion and external action, and strengthening Europe’s cultural and democratic capacity.

At a time when democratic norms and cultural freedoms are under pressure, the op-ed sets out a clear proposal: a tenfold increase in investment in culture and heritage, reaching 2% of the EU’s long-term budget. This would reinforce Europe’s soft power, strengthen democratic life and support a shared sense of belonging across the continent.