Joint Declaration ‘Europe for Culture — Culture for Europe’
The European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have adopted a new Joint Declaration, Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe, setting out a shared long-term vision for the role of culture in Europe.
The declaration places culture at the heart of the European project, recognising its intrinsic value as a public good as well as its contribution to democracy, social cohesion, innovation and competitiveness. It outlines 12 key principles to guide future cultural policy across the EU.
Among its main commitments, the declaration affirms artistic freedom and freedom of expression as foundations of democratic societies, and calls for stronger protection of artists and cultural institutions from censorship and undue interference. It also emphasises fair remuneration, social protection, safe working conditions and support for mobility in the cultural sector.
The declaration highlights the importance of cultural and linguistic diversity, equitable access to culture, and greater participation of young people in shaping cultural policies. It also recognises the growing role of culture in education, health and well-being, regional development, environmental sustainability and crisis resilience.
A significant focus is placed on artificial intelligence, with commitments to ensure AI supports human creativity, protects creators’ rights and fair remuneration, and promotes transparency.
Finally, the declaration calls for stronger investment in the cultural and creative sectors, better cross-sector policy integration, improved cross-border circulation of cultural works, and closer dialogue with cultural stakeholders.
The declaration marks a new political commitment to positioning culture as a strategic priority within both the EU’s internal and external policies. While it is a non-binding document and no concrete budget is attached to its implementation, it represents an important high-level political commitment that opens multiple avenues for positive change and could serve as a valuable advocacy tool for the sector to advance policy progress.
