This statement calls on the European Union to place culture at the heart of its political vision and ambition. Launched in 2020 by Culture Action Europe, European Cultural Foundation, Europa Nostra, the campaign puts forward specific suggestions for the European Union to mainstream culture in its key policies. Endorsed by thousands of organisations, individuals, and 110 European cultural networks, the Cultural Deal for Europe (CDEU) initiative became instrumental for setting the symbolic goal of 2% for culture in national recovery and resilience plans and, in turn, mobilising and securing an estimated 12 billion EUR for culture across the European Union.
In this renewed statement looking ahead to the 2024 and years to come, the CDEU campaign urges the European Union, EU Member States, and wider Europe to strategically utilise National Recovery and Resilience Plans for culture. This includes collaboration with civil society for the benefit of independent cultural scenes, as well as the conservation and restoration of Europe’s heritage. Additionally, the campaign advocates for the inclusion of a European Cultural Deal for Ukraine within the broader Cultural Deal for Europe. It calls for the development of a new and ambitious EU cultural policy in partnership with civil society, emphasising the need for innovative collaboration with the European philanthropic sector to address present and future emergencies faced by cultural sectors.
Furthermore, the campaign emphasises the establishment of common and ambitious standards for working conditions for artists and cultural workers across Europe. It urges accelerated efforts to harness the potential of culture for sustainable development and social justice, emphasising the full integration of culture into the European Green Deal. Ultimately, the CDEU calls for placing culture at the core of discussions regarding the future of the continent and stresses its integral role in the upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections.
