The European Commission's presentation of the ‘Culture Compass’ (see EUROPE 13750/6) on Wednesday 12 November was well received, although the demands for its implementation were qualified.
When contacted by our editorial team, the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), Nela Riehl (Greens/EFA, German), welcomed a strategy that “marks an important step forward for the protection of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors”.
She said that she appreciates the approach which “goes beyond competitiveness” and focuses on “artistic freedom, sustainable funding and strong international cultural relations”, although notes that “the real test will be delivery”, particularly with the future AgoraEU programme.
The Vice-Chair, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski (EPP, Polish), stressed that the Compass “establishes culture as the cornerstone of Europe’s identity and future”. In his view, “the dialogue conducted over the past year with Commissioner (Glenn) Micallef” has made it possible to reflect Parliament’s priorities.
Hannes Heide (Austrian), coordinator of the Social Democrat group, welcomed a real change in the way culture is viewed, “often (...) treated as a secondary issue”. He welcomed the Commission’s intention “to anchor culture in the next Multiannual Financial Framework and to double the budget for Creative Europe”.
France’s Laurence Farreng, coordinator of the Renew Europe group, saw an encouraging sign of commitment to European culture. Notwithstanding this first step, she urged the European Commission to “take full political ownership of this ambition, which was not mentioned in the presentation of the 2026 work programme”. And to point out that this “will only exist if it is accompanied by sufficient funding. Culture is too often the poor relation in Ursula von der Leyen’s speeches”.
European cultural organisations have also welcomed the progress made. The Culture Action Europe network, which sees this as a “necessary and ambitious” strategy, is calling for legislation on artistic freedom and a directive on decent working conditions to push ambition further.
Europa Nostra is satisfied with this “holistic” consideration, which “anchors culture and heritage at the heart of the European project”, and urges the institutions to rapidly adopt the Joint Declaration planned by the Commission. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)