For the first time, the Presidents of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission will sign a shared political declaration recognising culture as a strategic priority for Europe.
WHY THIS MATTERS
The Declaration brings the three EU institutions behind a shared, long-term vision for culture at the highest political level.
It recognises culture in two connected ways:
- Europe for culture: supporting conditions where everyone can create, access and participate in culture, while empowering and protecting artists and cultural professionals to work in fair and safe conditions.
- Culture for Europe: recognising that culture strengthens democracy and resilience, brings communities together, drives regional development and shapes Europe's place in the world.
BACKGROUND
The Declaration sets out 12 guiding principles for cultural policies in Europe and builds on the Culture Compass for Europe, launched by Commissioner Glenn Micallef on 12 November 2025.
The Culture Compass is the Commission’s first major strategic framework for culture since the 2018 New European Agenda for Culture. It connects artistic freedom, cultural rights and support for cultural professionals with wider European priorities, including democracy, resilience and cohesion. The Commission proposed the Joint Declaration to secure political ownership of this vision.
WHAT'S COMING NEXT
The Joint Declaration is the first deliverable of the Culture Compass. Further actions include:
- EU structured dialogue with cultural stakeholders, Q3 2026
- Youth Cultural Ambassadors network - 2026
- AI strategy for the cultural and creative sectors, Q1 2027
- EU Artists Charter, proposed in consultation with social partners, Q2 2027
- New European Prize for Performing Arts, Q2 2027
- State of Culture report and EU cultural data hub, Q3 2027
- Voluntary framework for mutual recognition of national culture passes for young people, Q4 2027
For the 2028–2034 EU budget, the Commission is also proposing (1) to double the EU budget for culture and (2) stronger and simpler support for culture through the Creative Europe–Culture strand of the proposed AgoraEU programme.
QUOTES
“Today marks a European first: culture is a strategic priority for Europe's future. A society that invests in culture, invests in democracy, in peace and in resilience. This political commitment must now lead to practical progress: fairer conditions for artists and cultural professionals, wider access to culture and stronger cultural communities across Europe. This declaration belongs to the people who create, protect, share and bring European culture to life.”
KEY FIGURES
In 2024, 7.9 million people worked in culture across the EU, representing 3.8% of total EU employment (by comparison, agriculture represented 3.9% of the EU workforce in 2023 and ICT specialists 5% in 2024). Nearly one in three was self-employed. In 2023, the EU’s 2.1 million cultural enterprises generated ~€202 billion in value added and €524 billion in turnover.
Culture also travels beyond Europe. In 2024, the EU exported €31.5 billion in cultural goods to countries outside the Union, including books, artworks, musical instruments and recorded media. Beyond their direct economic value, cultural and creative activities make European cities and regions more attractive, support tourism and innovation, and help European stories, languages and ideas reach audiences worldwide.
Source: Eurostat
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- European Parliament debate: Thursday, 18 June, from 10:30 to 11:50, during the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg.
- Signing: The Presidents will sign the Declaration in the margins of the European Council at 17:30.
- Interview opportunities: Online or in-person interviews are possible on Wednesday, 17 June, in Strasbourg, or Thursday, 18 June, in Brussels.
- Media contact: Sevim Aktas, Communication Adviser (+32 460 765247 – sevim [dot] atkas
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (sevim[dot]atkas[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu))
THE POLITICAL PROCESS
- The Commission presented the draft Joint Declaration alongside the Culture Compass in November 2025.
- The Council’s Cultural Affairs Committee examined the proposal in January and February 2026. Three technical interinstitutional meetings followed on 22 April, 4 May and 6 May, with a political meeting held in Strasbourg on 18 May.
- Commissioner Glenn Micallef, European Parliament CULT Committee Chair Nela Riehl and the Cypriot Presidency subsequently reached a preliminary agreement, which was endorsed by the three institutions.
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS
- Publication date
- 16 June 2026
- Author
- Representation in Malta