New European Agenda for Culture 2018

On 22 May 2018, the new European Agenda for Culture was adopted by the European Commission.

The European Agenda for Culture aims to “harness the full potential of culture to help build a more inclusive and fairer Union, supporting innovation, creativity and sustainable jobs and growth”. For this, the Agenda has three strategic objectives:  

1.   Social dimension – Harnessing the power of culture and cultural diversity for social cohesion and well-being.
2. Economic dimension – Supporting culture-based creativity in education and innovation, and for jobs and growth.
3. External dimension- Strengthening international cultural relations.

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform is particularly interested in the goals from the third objective of this new Agenda. For Culture in EU’s external relations within the next years, the Commission and the High Representative will particularly pay attention to:

• Promote the cultural and creative sectors in the Western Balkans through strengthened support from Creative Europe and envisage using the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance to support culture in the Enlargement countries and the Western Balkans, particularly in implementing the related flagship initiatives of the Action Plan in Support of the Transformation of the Western Balkans;
• Envisage launching a third phase of the Eastern Partnership Culture programme and strengthen civil society through culture in Mediterranean countries;
• Launch a Preparatory Action on European Houses of Culture in partner countries;
• Strengthen the dialogue on culture with China and launch a new dialogue with Japan;
• Implement the 11th European Development Fund Intra-ACP culture programme for African, Caribbean and Pacific countries, complementing actions in all other relevant EU programmes, to support job creation, identity building, vocational training, audiovisual cooperation and the implementation of the UNESCO 2005 Convention in these countries;
• Develop strategies for cultural cooperation at regional level, starting with the Western Balkans, the Middle East and North African region and Latin America;
• Add cultural heritage protection to the tasks of Common Security and Defense Policy missions, where appropriate, building on ongoing missions and projects
• Support Silk Road Heritage corridors in Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iran

The Commission invites Member States to:

• Cooperate in developing joint activities with the Commission, the High Representative and their services, including the European External Action Service.

See the full text of the new European Agenda For Culture here. See the Staff Working Document here. See the full text of the European Agenda for Culture in a Globalising World from 2007 here.