The European Commission will present its first proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s next long-term budget (2028–2034), on 16 July. Culture Action Europe (CAE) has summarised what they know so far regarding predictions for the future of EU funding and cross boarder cooperation.
Creative Europe
A leaked note suggests that the possibility of merging Creative Europe and CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme) is still under consideration. CAE has addressed the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for Creative Europe to remain a standalone programme with an increased budget.
Following the MFF proposal, the work on the Creative Europe Regulation can be expected to start to define the legislation that outlines the programme’s structure, priorities, indicators, and funding schemes.
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ has long been a cornerstone of European collaboration, providing essential support for mobility, cooperation, and policy development. Currently, it operates under three key pillars:
- Key Action 1 – Mobility of individuals
- Key Action 2 – Cooperation among organisations and institutions
- Key Action 3 – Support for policy development and cooperation
However, the European Commission is reportedly considering a major restructuring of Erasmus+, narrowing its scope to focus exclusively on Key Action 1. The other two pillars would be shifted into the Competitiveness Fund.
This proposed change has raised alarms within the education and culture sectors. A joint statement from the Erasmus+ Coalition, coordinated by the European Youth Forum and the Lifelong Learning Platform, opposes the fragmentation. The coalition warns that centralising parts of Erasmus+ under a separate fund could distance the programme from local communities and make it less accessible to cultural and educational institutions.
Horizon Europe
The future of Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, is also uncertain, including Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society. Therefore, Culture Action Europe is calling for strong commitments from the European Commission. In a forthcoming statement, CAE urges leaders, including Commission President and Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Iliana Zaharieva, to:
- Preserve and increase funding for research and innovation in the cultural and creative sectors, particularly within Cluster 2, in the next Horizon programme;
- Continue supporting research and innovation in the Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts, while promoting their stronger transversal integration across all clusters of the upcoming programme.
Creative Europe budget for 2026
While long-term frameworks like the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) are being discussed, decisions regarding the annual budget are also being made. The European Commission has proposed a €396 million budget for Creative Europe in 2026, marking a 12.4% increase from the previous year.
The proposed allocation includes:
- €121.7 million for the Culture strand
- €213.8 million for the Media strand
- €33 million for the Cross-sectoral strand
- €27.5 million for support and implementation expenses, such as the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) budget
The proposal is still awaiting approval. The Council of the European Union is expected to adopt its position in the autumn, after which the European Parliament will have 42 days to respond.
