Investing in our culture is investing in our future: Open letter to EU leaders

Alongside 89 other cultural organisations, we are urging the European Council to support the European Parliament’s proposal of increasing funding for the Creative Europe programme to €2.8bn. Read the letter below:

Dear President of the European Council,
Dear Member States representatives,

We are writing as a group of 90 organisations from across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors ahead of the European Council discussions on the future EU budget.

At this key juncture of the negotiations on a future EU Multi-Financial Framework (2021-2027), we call on you to support the European Parliament’s proposed budget for the Creative Europe Programme 2021-2027, the only EU framework Programme dedicated to cultural and creative sectors.

Today, Creative Europe represents a mere 0,15% of the overall EU Budget. This is by no means proportionate to our sectors’ contribution to the EU economy, which stands at €509bn in value-added to GDP and over 12 million full-time jobs (7.5 % of the EU’s workforce).

Our culture and our talents support artistic freedom and media pluralism, which are crucial for maintaining open, inclusive and creative societies. Yet, culture is low on the EU’s political agenda, and these sectors remain structurally underfinanced. The financing gap for Europe’s cultural and creative SMEs alone is estimated to be somewhere between € 8bn and € 13bn.

This is why we welcome the European Parliament’s proposal to increase the Creative Europe budget to €2.8bn. We call on the Council to support this much-needed boost to the future of Europe’s arts, culture and heritage, and the values they promote.

The contribution of Europe’s cultural and creative sectors to the social, economic and artistic development of Europe fully justifies the added value of EU investment in culture.

Our common values and our unique cultural diversity lie at the centre of our collective European project and are the best ambassadors for the EU’s global influence in the world.

Investing in our culture is investing in our future. Let’s show a high level of ambition and shape a brighter future for Europe.

The undersigned organisations

1. AEC – Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen
2. AEPO ARTIS
3. AER – Association of European Radios
4. ANIMATION in EUROPE
5. b.creative – the global network for cultural & creative entrepreneurs
6. CEM – Centre Européen de Musique
7. CEPI- EUROPEAN AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION
8. CEPIC – Centre of the Picture Industry
9. CICAE – Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d’Art et d’Essai
10. CAE – Culture Action Europe
11. CEATL – European Literary Translators
12. CILECT – International Association of film and television schools
13. Circostrada Network
14. Cumulus
15. EAA – European Association of Archaeologists
16. EAS – European Association for Music in Schools
17. EBU – European Broadcasting Union
18. ECCD – European Coalition for Cultural Diversity
19. E.C.C.O. – European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers’ Organisations
20. ECF – European Cultural Foundation
21. ECSA – European Composer & Songwriter Alliance
22. EFA – European Festivals Association
23. EFAITH – European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage
24. EGDF – European Games Developer Federation
25. EIFB – European and International Booksellers Federation
26. ELIA – European League of Institutes of the Arts
27. EMA – European Museum Academy
28. EMC – European Music Council
29. EMCY – European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
30. EMEE – European Music Exporters Exchange
31. EMMA – European Music Managers Alliance
32. EMU – European Music School Union
33. ENCATC – European Network on cultural management and policy
34. ENCC – European Network of Cultural Centres
35. ERIH – European Route of Industrial Heritage
36. ETC – European Theatre Convention
37. European Choral Association – Europa Cantat
38. Eurocinema
39. Europa Cinemas
40. Europa Distribution, The European Network of Independent Film Publishers and Distributors
41. Europa International
42. European Jazz Network
43. Europa Nostra
44. Europavox
45. European Heritage Alliance 3.3
46. European Mozart Ways
47. EUYO – European Union Youth Orchestra
48. Eurozine – European Network of Cultural Journals
49. EWC – European Writers’ Council
50. FEDEC – European Federation of Professional Circus Schools
51. FEP – Federation of European Publishers
52. FERA – Federation of European Film Directors
53. FIA – International Federation of Actors
54. FIAD – International Federation of Film Distributors’ Associations
55. FIAPF – International Federation of Film Producers Association
56. FIM – International Federation of Musicians
57. FSE – The Federation of Screenwriters in Europe
58. GESAC – European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
59. gigmit
60. IAMIC – International Association of Music Information Centres
61. IAO – International Artist Organisation of Music
62. ICMP – International Confederation of Music Publishers
63. ICOMOS – the International Council on Monuments and Sites
64. IETM – International network for contemporary performing arts
65. IFPI – International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
66. IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association
67. IMPF – Independent Music Publishers International Forum
68. IMMF – International music managers forum
69. IMZ International Music + Media Centre
70. INES – Innovation Network of European Showcase Festivals
71. IN SITU – European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space
72. Interpret Europe
73. ISFE – The Interactive Software Federation Europe
74. IVF – International Video Federation
75. JM International
76. Live DMA – European Network for Live Music Associations
77. Liveurope – The Live Music Platform for New European Talent
78. Mad’in Europe
79. MCA – Michael Culture Association
80. NEMO – Network of European Museum Organisations
81. On the Move
82. Pearle*- Live Performance Europe
83. REMA – European Early Music Network
84. SAA -Society of Audiovisual Authors
85. SEE Network – South East European Network
86. SHAPE platform
87. Sistema Europe
88. TEH – Trans Europe Halles
89. UNIC – International Union of Cinemas
90. UNIMEI – UNI – Media, Entertainment & Arts