Council Conclusions on EU strategic approach to international cultural relations

On 23 May 2017, the Council of the EU adopted Conclusions on the EU strategic approach to international cultural relations.

The Council of the EU published a press release underlining that “such an approach should be bottom-up and should respect the independence of the cultural sector. [EU Ministers] recognise that international cultural relations can only develop by encouraging cultural diversity within the EU, and [they] call for consistency and coherence of effort. In order to take forward this work, the Council has agreed as a next step that a working group will be established to assist in drawing up a comprehensive EU strategic approach to international cultural relations. This work will be supported by the Commission and European External Action Service, drawing on the existing cultural diplomacy platform which was set up in 2016 to help promote the EU’s cultural engagement with third countries.”

Read the full text of the Council conclusions. Watch Federica Mogherini’s statement on culture and foreign policy, which she delivered in the sidelines of the meeting of the EU Ministers of Education, Culture, Youth, Sport and Communication.