The report addresses the EU’s increasing social and cultural diversity, a positive fact in itself, providing guidelines for policymakers and cultural institutions to implement Article 3 of the Treaty on European Union. This Article states: “The EU shall respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity.” While the EU is committed to combating discrimination and promoting economic and social cohesion, diversity also poses challenges to social unity.
Migration, both within and outside the EU, contributes to our cultural diversity, while inequalities, particularly where the benefits of globalisation are unequally distributed, exacerbate economic disparities. Recent EU data reveal that approximately 113 million Europeans (over 20%) are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with 15% experiencing material deprivation. This deprivation includes being unable to afford monthly social events with friends or family, an internet connection, or regular leisure activities. Such social disconnection, in turn, hinders cultural participation and societal cohesion.
In 2017, 40% of surveyed Europeans felt that Member States were distant in terms of shared values. Culture ranked highest among factors likely to foster a sense of community, surpassing history, geography, and religion. However, more than a third of Europeans reported not participating in cultural activities at all. A working group of EU Member States’ experts from 2017 to 2019 compiled a list of recommendations for enhancing the contribution of culture to social cohesion.
