On Friday 23 August, the European Union's Directorate-General for Internal Policies (DG IPOL) published a report on EU policy in the fields of culture and the creative sectors. This document, drawn up at the request of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), analyses past and current actions in this area, with a view to identifying the main priorities for the coming legislative period (2024-2029).
The document looks at the EU’s policy responses to recent crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which has had a major impact on the cultural sectors and has required urgent support.
Furthermore, over the last legislature, EU action has been guided by sustainability, climate neutrality, inclusiveness and affordability as central elements for the digital and green transition.
Instruments such as the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMS), the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA) have been put in place to protect media pluralism and ensure a fair regulatory framework for digital players. In addition, European legislation on media freedom and the anti-SLAPP Directive have been adopted to protect the independence of the media and the safety of journalists.
Against this backdrop, the cultural and creative sectors have gained in recognition.
However, the report highlights that current EU policy frameworks are not yet fully integrating and supporting the cultural and creative sectors. Obstacles such as short-term project funding, precarious working conditions for professionals in the sector, a lack of cross-sectoral collaboration and rapid but non-inclusive technological developments are holding back the ability of culture and the creative sectors to play a transversal role in the European project.
For the next term of the European Parliament, the European Union’s Directorate-General for Internal Policies has defined four priorities: investing in culture and the creative sectors as a driver for societal change, updating cultural networks for greater sustainability, creating safe spaces for cultural interaction and strengthening cooperative governance within the European institutions.
Read the report: https://aeur.eu/f/d81 (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)