The Creative Europe programme must go on!
The European cultural sector is united in making its voice heard in favour of a standalone Creative Europe programme in the future EU budget. Creative Europe is the only programme entirely dedicated to culture and the creative sectors. It fosters cross-border cultural cooperation and promotes the arts on a European and international scale, reaching a wide and diverse audience. Culture needs its own space and the freedom to do what it does best: unite, experiment, and envision futures.
In an increasingly polarised world, arts and culture contribute to openness, dialogue and a better understanding of our societies. This is why we need to invest in culture. EFA has therefore endorsed the following actions and is calling for an increase in the Creative Europe programme's budget.
Call and letter initiated by Culture Action Europe and its members
More than 1300 cultural sector professionals, representing 500+ organisations from 40+ countries, believe that the future EU budget must include a strong, standalone Creative Europe programme. The number continues to grow every day.
Are you one of them? Add you voice now!
As the European Commission prepares to present its first proposal for the next long-term EU budget 2028-2034 in mid-July, Culture Action Europe and its members reiterate their call to European policymakers, and above all, to the Commission President:
- Creative Europe must remain a self-standing programme dedicated to culture and creativity.
- Its budget must be significantly increased to 2% of total EU spending.
Currently, Creative Europe accounts for just 0.2% of the EU budget, or €2.44 billion over seven years. This is disproportionate not only to the sector’s economic contribution (an estimated €11 return in GDP for every euro invested, according to the European Parliamentary Research Service) but also to its value in fostering social cohesion, shared identity, and resilience across Europe.
It’s like watching a two-hour film and being shown only 15 seconds. Like slicing a cake into 500 pieces and offering artists just one. Like giving culture less than a day on the calendar.
We see future Creative Europe as strong, autonomous, and accessible. A programme respecting artistic freedom, with its own metrics and tailor-made funding schemes. A programme that supports diversity, emerging professionals, and widespread cultural participation.
To the EU institutions, we say: Ask. Pay. Trust. Artists must be asked, paid, and trusted to do their work. When they are supported in this way, they produce bold, powerful, and meaningful art that resonates across borders.
Culture Action Europe, on behalf of the 280 cultural networks, organisations, artists, and activists from 35 European countries in our network, sent a letter to President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, sharing our position on Creative Europe ahead of the Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Read the full letter.
Let Culture Lead us Forward - European cultural sector unites to call for a stronger Creative Europe programme
The European cultural sector has come together to call on the European Commission, European Parliament and Member States to reinforce the Creative Europe programme in the next EU long-term budget (MFF).
The open letter has been endorsed by 70+ European associations, collectively representing close to 20.000 organisations active across the performing arts, music, literature, architecture, heritage, visual arts, audiovisual, and media sectors throughout Europe. In addition, 200+ national cultural organisations have expressed their support for the initiative.
According to the 2025 Eurobarometer, culture is the number one factor contributing to a sense of community among EU citizens, even above shared values, economy, and language. In a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressure, and democratic backsliding, Europe needs unity more than ever. And that unity begins with cultural connection.
Creative Europe is the EU’s only programme fully dedicated to culture and the creative sectors. Yet it represents a tiny fraction of the EU budget. Doubling the budget of Creative Europe would be a modest investment financially, but a powerful signal of commitment to the values of solidarity, creativity, and European identity.
Across Europe, cultural organisations are under pressure: facing cuts, inflation, and increasingly constrained freedoms. If we want artists and institutions to continue inspiring, connecting and challenging our societies, we must give them the means to do so.
That’s why the sector is coming together to urge the European institutions and member states to:
- Support a stand-alone Creative Europe programme in the next MFF;
- Double the budget of Creative Europe to reflect its real value and potential impact;
- Defend culture as a strategic investment in the future of Europe.
Culture is how Europe speaks to its citizens and to the world. Let’s give it the place and the support it deserves.
Read the letter in full here. If you represent a cultural organisation and would like to co-sign the letter, you can do so through this webform.