The European Commission has proposed in the next long-term EU budget to increase funding for Creative Europe, the programme supporting European cultural and creative sectors and audio-visual works.
The commission’s proposal to reinforce the EU’s cultural and creative sectors is focused on the media area, supporting the EU’s film and other audio-visual industries.
The proposal for a new Creative Europe programme is part of the ‘Investing in people’ chapter of the EU’s long-term budget proposal. Its main objectives are to promote, strengthen and protect European cultural and linguistic diversity, cultural heritage and creativity, as well as to reinforce the competitiveness of the European cultural and creative sectors.
The increased budget will also help to support the EU’s media freedom and pluralism, which is crucial for maintaining open, inclusive and creative societies.
Andrus Ansip, vice-president for the Digital Single Market, said: “The digital environment has transformed our cultural landscape, bringing new challenges and opportunities to Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. We want EU authors, creators and producers to make the most out of these new digital opportunities.”
What will the new programme build on?
The new Creative Europe programme will build on the achievements of the existing actions, aiming to exchange, co-create, co-produce and distribute European works and make them accessible to a wide and diverse audience. It will support cross-border partnerships from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors, including:
- Media;
- Culture; and
- Cross-sectoral.
Tibor Navracsics, commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, said: “Culture has always been at the heart of the European project. It is what brings people together. The cultural and creative sectors also have a crucial role in driving economic and social development, and they enable us to build strong international relations. We have big ambitions for culture, and a strong Creative Europe will enable us to make them a reality. I call on all member states and the European Parliament to back this approach.”
