A new Culture Compass for Europe: easier said than done
31/03/2025
The European Commission is working to deliver a new Culture Compass - a long-term strategic framework to guide the role of culture in EU policy-making. A key priority for Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, Glenn Micallef, the initiative builds on the Competitiveness Compass and the broader vision set by the Draghi report.
The Culture Compass aims to reaffirm shared European values while navigating societal transformation. It seeks to position culture not only as a pillar of identity but also as a driver of wellbeing, innovation, and development—across the EU and globally. Crucially, it is being co-created, with the first consultation taking place on 20 March 2025. This event brought together over 50 cultural stakeholders - including ENCATC - alongside representatives of all three main EU institutions: MEP Nela Riehl, Chair of the CULT Committee; Marta Cienkowska, Undersecretary of State from Poland; and Commissioner Micallef himself.
Their presence signals strong institutional backing and political momentum for the Commissioner’s proposal to anchor the Compass in a joint EU declaration. Such alignment across the Commission, Parliament, and Council could help overcome longstanding fragmentation in cultural policy at EU level.
Commissioner Micallef’s opening speech was visionary. He called culture the ‘heartbeat of Europe’ and urged a shift towards collective, dynamic policymaking rooted in dialogue. The Compass, he argued, must embrace artistic freedom, diversity, and democracy while enabling the cultural sector to respond to urgent challenges like AI disruption, climate change, and threats to cohesion and rights. His emphasis on fair working conditions for cultural professionals and the resilience of the sector shows a pragmatic understanding of needs on the ground.
The consultation marked a step forward in recognising culture as both intrinsic value and strategic asset, including in the EU’s global engagement. Micallef reiterated culture’s role in peacebuilding and diplomacy, calling for stronger cooperation within the enlargement and neighbourhood context.
The event concluded with a commitment to deeper engagement: an online survey will now gather broader views from Member States and the cultural and creative sectors.
Importantly, this initiative aligns with ongoing advocacy by European cultural and creative sectors for a more ambitious EU cultural agenda, including the call to allocate 2% of the EU budget to culture in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Encouragingly, Micallef appeared receptive. Still, his convening call — encouraging stakeholders to work constructively within the remit of the Treaties and EU competences - highlights the enduring limitations of Article 167 TFEU, which only grants the EU a complementary role in cultural matters. For many Member States, cooperation is acceptable - but coordination remains politically sensitive.
Micallef describes the Compass as a framework to ‘steer and ensure the coherence’ of EU actions. Yet it remains to be seen whether EU institutions can deliver joined-up governance for culture across diverse policy areas. The complexity of EU structures may hinder the flexibility and agility the sector requires.
Still, this initiative offers promise - not only in its aims but also in its method. The co-creation process reflects a commitment to social learning and communities of practice, values ENCATC has long championed. We welcome this approach and will continue to follow and contribute to the Culture Compass as it evolves.