About us

“In March 2016, we have launched the Cultural Diplomacy Platform, to gather all the actors – governments, regions, cities, cultural institutes, civil society organisations, artists, scientists, performers, individuals and many more – of the European external cultural relations, and engage them on a continuous basis, receive feedback, policy advice and support.

 

Culture is at the core of our foreign policy, and for quite some time now, the development of a strategic approach to international cultural relations is one of our priorities. In this perspective, we – Commissioner Navracsics and I – have presented a strategy for culture in the EU external relations to the Council of the EU and the European Parliament in June 2016.

 

Indeed, as in today’s world cultures are bound to meet, we have a duty to make the most out of this encounter. Therefore, the whole of Europe needs to share the same sense of direction when engaging in these cultural exchanges with the world. And this direction must go beyond the simple teaching of our culture: cultural diplomacy is about learning, listening, sharing new ideas and making them grow together.

 

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform will strengthen our ability to engage on an equal footing with our partners across with the globe – from international organisations, national governments, local authorities, civil society organisations and individual citizens. The Platform will provide support and policy advice to the EU institutions, including the EU Delegations, cultural stakeholders in Europe and outside, and set up a global cultural leadership training programme for young cultural managers.

 

Ultimately, this will truly make culture the European way to engage partners around the world.”

Federica Mogherini
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Vice-President of the European Commission

©European External Action Service

CONTEXT

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform has been launched early March 2016 by the Service for Foreign Policy Instruments of the European Commission, to support the EU institutions in the implementation of a new ‘EU Strategy for international cultural relations’.

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform aims at carrying out activities enhancing the EU’s cultural engagement with third countries and their citizens, mostly by supporting and advising EU institutions, including the EU Delegations across the globe, and setting-up a global cultural leadership training programme.

British Council, Centre for Fine Arts/BOZAR, EUNIC Global, European Cultural Foundation and Institut français have formed a consortium, led by Goethe-Institut, to support the implementation of the Cultural Diplomacy Platform. This consortium has been selected through a call for tender.

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform is set in the continuity of the Preparatory Action ‘Culture in EU External Relations’, which took place in 2013-2014. This Preparatory Action had been called for by the European Parliament in 2012 – following a resolution on the cultural dimensions of the EU external action adopted in 2011 – and implemented by the Directorate General Education and Culture of the European Commission.