European Cultural Foundation 280d ago

How can culture shape the future of Europe? This question took centre stage on 4 February 2025 at Bozar, where cultural leaders, policymakers, and civil society gathered for the first public event to engage with the newly installed European Commission and Parliament on the proposed Culture Compass. This annual policy conversation—Culture: The Compass for Europe’s Future—came just ahead of the European Parliament’s debate on the EU’s long-term budget, the Multi-Annual Financial Framework. The conversation brought together key voices in European policy and culture, with over 120 participants attending in person and more than 1,000 joining online. Among them were Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture & Sport; Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education; and four Members of the European Parliament—Laurence Farreng, Hannes Heide, Zoltan Tarr, and Helder Sousa-Silva—representing the Committees on Culture and Budget. Representatives from the EU Council Presidency were also present, including Poland’s Deputy Minister for Culture and Heritage, Marta Cienkowska. The strong engagement, both in the room and online, sent a clear message: culture is not just a reflection of Europe’s past—it is the key to its future. The Cultural Deal for Europe is initiated and developed by Culture Action Europe, Europa Nostra, and the European Cultural Foundation. You can learn more about the Cultural Deal for Europe at the dedicated website https://culturaldeal.eu/