The joint letter, first published on 8 April, highlights the strategic importance of investing in culture, independent media and civil society as key pillars of Europe’s democratic resilience. AgoraEU, the European Commission’s proposed programme, brings together funding for culture, the audiovisual sector, media, democratic participation and fundamental rights.
NEMO was among the first 500 organisations that signed the letter and now invites its members and the wider museum community to join the initiative and contribute to the ongoing advocacy work.
- Sign the joint letter to be part of showing support for strengthened funding for AgoraEU
Recent developments at EU level underline the importance of this collective effort. On 28 April 2026, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position for the next EU budget, proposing a €10.72 billion allocation for AgoraEU, representing an approximate 25% increase compared to the Commission’s initial proposal. While this marks a positive step, AgoraEU would still account for only 0.53% of the overall EU budget, indicating that further strengthening is needed.
Encouraging broader support
Following the Parliament’s position, the next stage of negotiations will take place within the Council of the European Union, where Member States will define their stance on the future budget. This phase is critical for determining the final level of funding for AgoraEU. In this context, cultural organisations, networks and institutions across Europe are encouraged to not only sign the letter but also consider:
- Engage with national decision‑makers, including Ministries of Finance, European Affairs and Permanent Representations to the EU
- Use the available template letter to advocate for a stronger AgoraEU programme at national level. Access contact information of relevant Members of the European Parliament in this document, uploaded by Culture Action Europe.
