Investing in our culture is investing in our future – Open letter to EU leaders from Europe’s cultural and creative sectors
11 December 2019
Creative Europe Programme 2021-2027
Investing in our culture is investing in our future
Open letter to EU leaders from Europe’s cultural and creative sectors
Dear President of the European Council,
Dear Member States representatives,
We are writing as a group of 93 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.
1 Proposal for a regulation establishing the Creative Europe programme (2021 to 2027) and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 (COM(2018) 366 final)
2 European Parliament report on a coherent EU policy for cultural and creative industries (2016/2072(INI))
3 European Commission Impact assessment accompanying the Proposal for a Regulation establishing the InvestEU Programme. SWD(2018) 314 final
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 work force).
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 center 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. EDN – European DanceHouse Network
23. EFA – European Festivals Association
24. EFAITH – European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage
25. EFFORTS – European Federation of Fortified Sites
26. EGDF – European Games Developer Federation
27. EIFB – European and International Booksellers Federation
28. ELIA – European League of Institutes of the Arts
29. EMA – European Museum Academy
30. EMC – European Music Council
31. EMCY – European Union of Music Competitions for Youth
32. EMEE – European Music Exporters Exchange
33. EMMA – European Music Managers Alliance
34. EMU – European Music School Union
35. ENCATC – European Network on cultural management and policy
36. ENCC – European Network of Cultural Centres
37. ERIH – European Route of Industrial Heritage
38. ESNS – Eurosonic Noorderslag
39. ETC – European Theatre Convention
40. European Choral Association – Europa Cantat
41. Eurocinema
42. Europa Cinemas
43. Europa Distribution, The European Network of Independent Film Publishers and Distributors
44. Europa International
45. European Jazz Network
46. Europa Nostra
47. Europavox
48. European Heritage Alliance 3.3
49. European Mozart Ways
50. EUYO – European Union Youth Orchestra
51. Eurozine – European Network of Cultural Journals
52. EWC – European Writers’ Council
53. FEDEC – European Federation of Professional Circus Schools
54. FEP – Federation of European Publishers
55. FERA – Federation of European Film Directors
56. FIA – International Federation of Actors
57. FIAD – International Federation of Film Distributors’ Associations
58. FIAPF – International Federation of Film Producers Association
59. FIM – International Federation of Musicians
60. FSE – The Federation of Screenwriters in Europe
61. GESAC – European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers
62. gigmit
63. IAMIC – International Association of Music Information Centres
64. IAO – International Artist Organisation of Music
65. ICMP – International Confederation of Music Publishers
66. ICOMOS – the International Council on Monuments and Sites
67. IETM – International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts
68. IFPI – International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
69. IMPALA – Independent Music Companies Association
70. IMPF – Independent Music Publishers International Forum
71. IMMF – International music managers forum
72. IMZ International Music + Media Centre
73. INES – Innovation Network of European Showcase Festivals
74. IN SITU – European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Space
75. Interpret Europe
76. ISFE – The Interactive Software Federation Europe
77. IVF – International Video Federation
78. JM International
79. Live DMA – European Network for Live Music Associations
80. Liveurope – The Live Music Platform for New European Talent
81. Mad’in Europe
82. MCA – Michael Culture Association
83. NEMO – Network of European Museum Organisations
84. On the Move
85. Pearle*- Live Performance Europe
86. REMA – European Early Music Network
87. SAA -Society of Audiovisual Authors
88. SEE Network – South East European Network
89. SHAPE platform
90. Sistema Europe
91. TEH – Trans Europe Halles
92. UNIC – International Union of Cinemas
93. UNIMEI – UNI – Media, Entertainment & Arts