Culture Action Europe (CAE) had a look at the new negotiation box, which contains more detailed figures prepared by the Finnish Council Presidency, and suggested cuts to programmes under the “Cohesion and Values” Heading may seriously affect the amount previously proposed for the Creative Europe programme by the European Commission.
CAE writes that “the Commission had proposed a 17% overall increase to the Creative Europe budget in May 2018, from 1.403 million EUR (2014-2020) to 1.642 million EUR (2021-2027). As the overall figure for the EU budget proposed by the Finnish presidency is lower than the Commission’s proposal (€1087bn vs. €1134bn), allocations to each of the respective Headings will also be smaller. Thus far, funding for Heading 2 “Cohesion and Values”, which includes the Creative Europe programme, is proposed to be cut by €17.918 million, or 4,6%. This may have serious implications for Creative Europe and its culture sub-programme, hindering the impact of an already deeply underfunded programme.”
Compared to the creative and cultural sectors contribution to the EU economy, the funding going into Creative Europe is disproportional. Today, Creative Europe represents 0,15 % of the overall EU Budget and the sector brings in 509 billion Euro in added value to GDP and makes up for 12 million full-time jobs, which represents 7,5% of EU’s work force. Furthermore, culture should not be deprioritized in a time when unity and shared European values are of immense importance. Several European institutions have recognized culture as a key for increasing social cohesion, health and well-being and economic growth.
Culture Action Europe also writes that "the rapporteur for Creative Europe in the CULT Committee announced he will halt negotiations with the Council unless more reasonable figures come out of the European Council meeting on Thursday, December 12th. The European Parliament Committee on Culture and Education (CULT Committee) has promised to not let the let the Council decide on the future of culture in Europe without a good, democratic fight – and neither will the cultural sector."
Support the cause by signing CAE’s petition calling on the European Institutions and Member States to recognise the EU added value of cultural investment and translate it to sufficient support in the next EU budget by:
- Ensuring that 1% of the budget of each EU policy field is allocated to culture
- Doubling the budget for culture
A shared European future is only possible with substantial and sustainable funding for culture both across policy fields and in the framework of a specific cultural programme.
