The meeting, opened by EP President Roberta Metsola, brought together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss how the future EU budget will be communicated and implemented, and how different sectors can engage with the process as preparations advance across Europe.
For NEMO, the discussion was an important opportunity to better understand how museums can be represented in the next generation of EU funding instruments and how museum organisations can engage with decision-making processes at national level.
Why the National and Regional Partnership Plans matter
Particularly relevant for museums are the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs), which would allocate a substantial share of the future EU budget through plans developed by individual Member States. Unlike centrally managed EU programmes, the NRPPs are prepared at national level and set out the reforms and investments each country proposes to finance with EU funding. This approach brings European investment closer to national and regional priorities and could open up opportunities for museums and cultural organisations that do not typically access direct EU funding programmes.
At the same time, because investment priorities will be defined nationally, the extent to which museums and culture benefit will depend significantly on engagement with governments and decision-makers in each Member State.
Ensuring museums are part of the conversation.
NEMO has already encouraged its national museum umbrella organisation members in EU Member States to engage with their governments and advocate for a strong cultural and museum dimension in the forthcoming NRPPs. The network also supports calls for museums and the broader cultural sector to be meaningfully consulted as the plans are developed.
Museums contribute to a wide range of public priorities, including education, social cohesion, community development, digital innovation, sustainability and cultural heritage protection. NEMO believes these contributions should be reflected in future investment strategies at both national and European level.
Time for action is now
Preparations for the National and Regional Partnership Plans are already underway in several European countries, making the coming months a crucial period for advocacy and engagement.
NEMO will continue to follow developments closely, engage with policymakers and partners, and support museum organisations in ensuring that museums have a strong voice in shaping investment priorities for 2028-2034.
