Cultural Relations

OVERVIEW

The European Union (EU) considers culture a key dimension of its external relations, leveraging it as a driver for sustainable development, intercultural dialogue, and peace.
The strategic orientation is articulated in two cornerstone policy frameworks: the Joint Communication "Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations" and the New European Agenda for Culture.
Complementing these is the Strategic Framework for the EU's Cultural Policy, which highlights the importance of supporting cultural diversity, promoting human rights, and enhancing the role of culture in international partnerships.
Although programmes such as Med Culture and ACP Cultures+ have now concluded, their core objectives continue to be pursued through successor initiatives. Chief among these is the ACP-EU Culture Programme, which supports cultural and creative industries (CCIs) across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The programme provides financial support and capacity development for artists, entrepreneurs, and organisations.
The EU also collaborates with international partners such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) to focus on building competitive, inclusive creative industries by supporting business development services, skills training, and innovation. In situations of crisis or conflict, the EU deploys innovative tools such as the Copernicus Emergency Management Service. Through satellite-based monitoring, Copernicus provides vital data to assess damage to cultural heritage sites.
Research and innovation also remain key pillars of the EU's support for culture. Under the Horizon Europe framework (2021–2027), Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society funds projects that promote access to and protection of cultural heritage, foster social inclusion, and stimulate job creation in the cultural sector.
Finally, in a regulatory context, the EU is taking significant steps to protect cultural heritage from illicit trade and exploitation. Regulation (EU) 2019/880, which comes into force in June 2025, introduces strict import licensing requirements for cultural goods.

What is it?

The European Union (EU) considers culture a key dimension of its external relations, leveraging it as a driver for sustainable development, intercultural dialogue, and peace.

Growth and Jobs: Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) are key drivers of inclusive economic growth and employment, particularly for youth and women. Globally, CCIs account for approximately 3% of GDP and provide jobs for over 30 million people. In recent years, the developmental role of culture has gained increased recognition, with 68 countries from the Global South explicitly integrating culture into their National Development Plans.

Digital Transformation: The content generated by CCIs forms a vital part of the digital economy, often serving as a catalyst for digital innovation. Fields such as video gaming, design, animation, and virtual reality are directly shaped by cultural creativity, making culture a cornerstone of digital transformation.

Green Deal: Culture contributes to the behavioural shifts required to address climate change. Both tangible and intangible heritage offer platforms to integrate traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems that are often more sustainable and inclusive. These cultural resources can inspire environmentally responsible practices and community-led resilience strategies.

Migration: Cultural expression and participation play a vital role in supporting the social and economic (re)integration of migrants and displaced populations. Through identity building, dialogue, and shared experiences, cultural initiatives foster social cohesion, resilience, and inclusion in host and transit communities.

Governance, Peace and Security: Culture fosters open, inclusive, and resilient societies. It contributes to conflict prevention and peacebuilding by promoting cultural rights, freedom of expression, and respect for diversity. Ensuring equitable access to culture strengthens democratic values and civic engagement.

Youth, Gender and Education: Culture offers meaningful opportunities for youth, women, and marginalised communities to express themselves, participate actively in society, and drive social change. Cultural and arts education helps reduce inequalities, stimulates creativity, and fosters innovation, making it a powerful tool for empowerment and lifelong learning.

One example is the Global Gateway flagship project in Mosul, which focused on reviving culture and creative industries to contribute to skills development, job creation and livelihood enhancements. The project showcased how culture and cultural assets can be used for Global Gateway objectives.

When can it be used?

Cultural actors and activities can be integrated across a wide range of EU external actions. This cross-cutting approach ensures that culture is not treated in isolation, but rather embedded within broader external action priorities such as development cooperation, human rights, peacebuilding, climate action, and digital transformation. By mainstreaming cultural dimensions into programming, policy dialogues, and funding instruments, the EU can enhance the relevance, inclusivity, and sustainability of its external interventions while reinforcing its global role as a promoter of diversity, dialogue, and shared values.

Who can use it?

Cultural relations and cooperation can be integrated in a wide range of actions by different EU services both in the Headquarters and in EU delegations.

What are its strengths?

A cultural approach brings a range of strategic strengths that contribute to the EU's external objectives. These include:

• Fostering social cohesion and peacebuilding by promoting intercultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and reconciliation in diverse and post-conflict contexts.
• Stimulating inclusive economic growth and employment, particularly among youth and women, through support to cultural and creative industries (CCIs).
• Driving digital innovation, with cultural content serving as a key engine for the growth of the digital economy (e.g. in design, gaming, and virtual reality).
• Advancing environmental sustainability, by integrating cultural and natural heritage into climate-conscious practices and drawing on Indigenous and traditional knowledge systems.
• Empowering youth, women, and marginalised groups by providing platforms for cultural expression, participation, and social inclusion.

Together, these outcomes reinforce the EU's values-based external action and contribute to more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient societies.

What are its limitations?

Despite its strengths, implementing a cultural approach may encounter several challenges:

• Value-based resistance, where interventions promoting cultural rights or gender equality may clash with prevailing social norms, religious beliefs, or political sensitivities in certain regions.
• Risk of cultural homogenisation, where dominant global or foreign cultural influences may marginalise or displace local traditions, languages, and heritage.

To mitigate these risks, cultural cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect, local ownership, and co-creation, ensuring that cultural diversity is not only preserved but celebrated as a foundation for equitable partnerships.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Key elements

The effectiveness of a cultural approach in EU external action relies on several core elements:

• Embracing cultural diversity and safeguarding artistic freedom Recognising and valuing the richness of diverse cultural expressions, and upholding the right to freedom of artistic and cultural expression as a fundamental human right.
• Fostering intercultural dialogue Promoting mutual understanding and respect among communities through inclusive dialogue, cultural exchange, and people-to-people interactions.
• Supporting cultural heritage and creative industries Strengthening the role of both tangible and intangible heritage, alongside empowering cultural and creative sectors as engines of innovation, identity, and sustainable development.
• Reinforcing heritage conservation Enhancing the protection, restoration, and valorisation of cultural heritage, especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, through technical cooperation, innovation, and community engagement.

Requirements

Data/information

Reliable and context-specific data is essential for designing effective, targeted, and sustainable cultural strategies. A strong evidence base enables better alignment with local realities and enhances the impact of EU external actions. Key data components include:

• Comprehensive mapping of local cultural sectors This includes identifying relevant stakeholders, existing value chains, institutional capacities, and available resources to better understand opportunities and gaps within the cultural ecosystem.
• Assessment of the socio-economic impact of cultural initiatives Systematic analysis of how cultural programmes contribute to employment, social inclusion, economic growth, and community resilience provides the foundation for scaling successful models and informing policy dialogue.

Together, these data-driven insights allow for more strategic programming, adaptive planning, and results-oriented interventions in the field of international cultural relations.

Skills

Building impactful international cultural cooperation requires specific knowledge and competences. Among the most critical skills are:

• Understanding of cultural policies and stakeholder landscapes The ability to navigate local cultural ecosystems, including familiarity with national and regional cultural policies, institutions, and the specific needs and priorities of cultural actors.
• Intercultural awareness and sensitivity Competence in engaging across cultures with respect, empathy, and adaptability. This includes recognising cultural differences, avoiding bias, and fostering inclusive and equitable collaboration.

Facilities and materials

N.A.

Financial costs and resources

• Review Main Budget Sources (MIPs and AAPs): Check if Multiannual Indicative Programmes (MIPs) and Annual Action Plans (AAPs) include culture or allow for cultural activities to support other development priorities (e.g. youth, governance, climate).
• Explore Complementary Budget Lines: Identify other instruments such as Civil Society Organisation (CSO) support and Human Rights programmes that could fund cultural initiatives.
• Consider Public Diplomacy and Communication Tools: Cultural activities can be supported under public diplomacy frameworks and contribute to outreach and visibility efforts.
• Coordinate with Headquarters: Engage with EU HQ services to identify centrally managed or regional opportunities, such as FPI's Cultural Relations Platform for EU Delegations.
• Engage with EUNIC and Member States: Collaborate with EUNIC Clusters and other Member States to explore existing initiatives and develop synergies or co-financing opportunities.

Tips and tricks:

EU RESOURCES

• EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations: EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations
• Strategic Framework for the EU's Cultural Policy: Strategic Framework for the EU's Cultural Policy
• Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the introduction and the import of cultural goods: Regulation (EU) 2019/880
• ACP-EU Culture Programme: ACP-EU Culture Programme
• Horizon Europe Cultural Cluster: Horizon Europe Cultural Cluster
• Copernicus Emergency Management Service: Copernicus Emergency Management Service
• Reviving the Spirit of Mosul and Basra: Iraq - European Commission (europa.eu)
• Capacity4Development group for EU cultural focal points

OTHER RESOURCES

• UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 2005: UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions
• UNIDO Creative Industries Focus: UNIDO Creative Industries Focus

For further information, any revision or comment, please contact INTPA-ICM-GUIDE@ec.europa.eu

Published by INTPA.D.4 - Quality and results, evaluation, knowledge management. Last update 12 May 2025