City leaders in the Eurocities network have backed the European Commission’s new Culture Compass for Europe, announced on Wednesday 12 November, and stand ready to work with the EU to turn its ambitions into local reality.
At the same time, as negotiations on the next seven-year EU budget move forward, they call on the EU institutions to match the Compass’s vision with strong EU programmes and funding, including a bold Creative Europe strand in the proposed Agora EU programme, and recognition of culture in the budget’s National and Regional Partnership Plans and EU Competitiveness Fund.
A new vision for culture in Europe
The Culture Compass for Europe sets out a strategy for the future of EU cultural policy. It builds on the strengths of European culture, including shared values, freedoms and identity, and recognises culture’s economic values. Almost 8 million people are employed in cultural and creative enterprises in the EU, roughly 4% of the EU’s working population.
Welcoming the release of the Compass, Mathias De Clercq, President of Eurocities and Mayor of Ghent, stated: “I am delighted that the new Culture Compass for Europe aims to promote culture-led territorial and local development.
“In a Europe where 75% of Europeans live in cities, Eurocities looks forward to working with the European Commission to turn this ambition into concrete local action.”
The Compass addresses some of the most pressing challenges confronting Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries, from threats to artistic freedom and precarious working conditions for artists, to unequal access to culture and the impact of artificial intelligence.
To respond to these challenges, the Culture Compass will guide EU policies in four directions: strengthening European values and cultural rights, empowering artists and cultural professionals and supporting people, drawing on culture and cultural heritage to make Europe more competitive, resilient and cohesive, and championing international cultural relations and partnerships.
The Compass proposes several key actions, including an EU Artists’ Charter, a new EU Cultural Data Hub, a regular EU State of Culture Report, and an AI strategy for the cultural and creative sectors.
Eurocities looks forward to working with the European Commission to turn this ambition into concrete local action
It also introduces a Joint Declaration ‘Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe’ between the European Parliament, the Council of the EU and the Commission, to reaffirm key principles for cultural policy in Europe.
Democracy and artistic freedom
City leaders strongly support the Compass’ focus on democracy and on safeguarding artistic freedom. The timing is apt: democracy is under pressure in many parts of Europe, and mayors are increasingly concerned about polarisation, within cities, and between urban and rural areas.
Democracy is already a key priority for city leaders. The 2025 Eurocities Pulse Mayors Survey shows that democracy and providing services for citizens rank among the top 10 priorities for European mayors.
Cities have long been hubs of diversity and local democracy. More than ever, they are taking concrete action to reinforce democratic values through culture. Local governments:
- Keep public spaces open for peaceful demonstrations, performances and art installations
- Promote inclusive cultural policies that support freedom of expression and fund local artists and grassroots projects that may not receive national backing
- Make the most of cultural festivals, public art and exhibitions to engage citizens and spark dialogue on democracy, inclusion and justice
- Support educational programmes that highlight the importance of freedom and human rights, building the next generation of active, engaged citizens.
“The Culture Compass rightly reminds us that democracy and artistic freedom are defended every day in our cities,” explains Annette Christie, Glasgow Deputy Mayor for Culture, Sport and International Relations, and Chair of the Eurocities Culture Forum.
“It is in libraries, galleries and public spaces that people learn to imagine, question and connect. Local governments are on the frontline, ensuring culture remains a space of freedom and dialogue. Europe’s democratic future depends on empowering cities to turn these principles into action.”
Strong on inclusion, but we need more green ambition
The Culture Compass reflects many of the priorities set out in the Eurocities Lille Call to Action on sustainable culture, particularly under the pillar ‘Inclusion in culture and through culture.’
The Culture Compass rightly reminds us that democracy and artistic freedom are defended every day in our cities
Cities back the strong emphasis on promoting cultural and linguistic diversity, widening participation in and access to culture, and recognising health and wellbeing as core cultural policy goals. They also support the focus on improving working conditions in the sector.
Despite these positives, city leaders say the Compass’s ecological transition dimension could be strengthened. The ‘Ecological transition in the field of culture’ pillar of the Lille Call to Action is only partially reflected in the Compass, and the Compass section on ‘addressing climate change and environmental sustainability’ leaves room for more ambition. For example, there is no mention of the circular economy.
City leaders also note the new focus on mobilising private investment and philanthropy through ‘leveraging private funding.’ The Commission is encouraging public-private collaboration to expand funding sources for culture, tailored to the specific needs of the sectors. City leaders say this must complement, not replace, strong public investment in culture.
Funding the Culture Compass: making ambitions deliverable
To implement the priorities of the Culture Compass, city leaders underline the need for robust EU programmes and budgets.
In July, they welcomed the European Commission’s proposal to double the EU budget dedicated to culture in the proposed Agora EU programme. This will be essential to support investments in cultural infrastructure, participation, skills and experimentation at local level.
At the same time, they call on the European Parliament and the Council to:
- Maintain and reinforce the Creative Europe strand of Agora EU, ensuring that the proposed budget does not decrease during negotiations.
- Embed culture more systematically into future EU funding streams, including the proposed National and Regional Partnership Plans and the Competitiveness Fund.
Next steps: Cities are ready to act
City leaders welcome every step that strengthens political commitment to making culture an integral part of the EU’s identity and development. The Commission’s initiative to invite the European Parliament and the Council to co-sign a Joint Declaration on culture is a very positive signal.
Eurocities members are ready to work with the European Commission and other EU institutions to translate the Culture Compass into concrete local action, from defending artistic freedom and widening access to culture, to making cultural policies more sustainable and more inclusive.
The next Eurocities Culture Forum, in Gothenburg in September 2026, will focus on freedom of speech and expression, a timely opportunity to discuss how cities can help implement the Culture Compass on the ground and ensure that culture continues to guide Europe’s democratic future.
