Cultural Deal for Europe annual policy conversation ‘Culture: The Compass for Europe’s Future’
Europa Nostra, Culture Action Europe and the European Cultural Foundation, are organising the Cultural Deal for Europe annual policy conversation ‘Culture: The Compass for Europe’s Future’ on 4 February 2025, from 14:00h to 18:00 CET. The event will feature the participation of European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, and will take place at Bozar in Brussels and online.
2025 marks a critical year for the European Union and its strategic direction. Commissioner Micallef, will lead the creation of a new strategic framework called the ‘Culture Compass,’ “to guide and harness the multiple dimensions of culture”. If culture is Europe’s guiding star, where will this new strategy take us?
At the same time, all the Commissioners are spotlighting the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) — the EU’s new seven-year budget. They are framing it as a “simpler, more focused, and adaptable long-term budget” with the potential to bring about significant changes. Given culture’s importance to Europe, how will it fit into this crucial budget?
For the 2025 edition of the Cultural Deal for Europe annual policy conversation, policymakers from EU Member States will join representatives from the broader European cultural and cultural heritage community to discuss the pivotal role of culture in shaping Europe’s future.
Speakers include the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef; Deputy Minister for Culture and National Heritage in Poland, Marta Cienkowska; Chair of the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament, MEP Nela Riehl; former European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights & S&D Spitzenkandidat 2024, Nicolas Schmit; and many more.
Key points to be discussed are:
- How can culture and cultural heritage unleash their full potential for Europe without being instrumentalised?
- How ambitious is Europe with regards to culture? How does a powerful cultural leadership look like? How can culture be more strategically positioned within EU policy: policy and budget wise?
- How can culture and cultural heritage foster a European sentiment and a common public sphere?
- What can be done together to strengthen democracy and freedom at times of polarisation and divisions? What can culture do to foster democratic, free, plural, peaceful, as well as sustainable and inclusive communities?
This is a timely conversation aligning with the start of the new European Commission and ahead of the European Parliament’s debate on the MFF. It will help prioritise culture in the EU’s legislative agenda as Europe grapples with war, division, and polarisation. Culture and cultural heritage stand as Europe’s greatest assets and are great tools to help us envision better futures for our continent. This is why Europe needs a bold new direction – a Cultural Deal for Europe.
The full programme is available here.
Europa Nostra, Culture Action Europe and the European Cultural Foundation the three initiators of the Cultural Deal for Europe campaign, and our partner for the event, Centre for Fine Arts Brussels – Bozar look forward to welcoming you on 4 February. Please note that in-person attendance is upon invitation only.
Europa Nostra’s contribution to this event takes place under the framework of the network project Europa Nostra Heritage Agora (2025-2028), co-funded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union.
