FEP and 29 other European cultural networks and organisations urge the Council of the EU to withdraw proposed cuts to Creative Europe

The Federation of European Publishers, with 29 other European cultural networks and organisations, joins Culture Action Europe and urges the Council of the European Union to reverse the proposed €27.56 million cuts in commitment appropriations and €9.86 million cuts in payment appropriations outlined for the Creative Europe programme in the 2026 financial year.

On 1 October, the coalition sent a joint letter to Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, Ministers of Finance of the EU Member States and Ministers of Culture of the EU Member States, stressing the importance that the Creative Europe programme plays in supporting the arts, culture, cultural heritage and creative sectors in Europe.

The signatories stressed that, despite its very modest financial allocation, currently representing just 0.2% of the total EU budget (€2.44 billion over seven years), Creative Europe has had a measurable and strategic impact. It provides an estimated €11 in GDP for every euro invested according to the European Parliament Research Service.

Furthermore, the coalition reminded that during the presentation of preliminary findings of the mid-term evaluation of the Creative Europe programme 2021-2027, the Commission shared that a recent call for proposals, which received over 1,600 applications, will only see 10 to 15 % of projects selected for funding, with many ‘extraordinary projects’ missing out. In other words, current levels of funding are already insufficient to meet the demand for Creative Europe calls for applications. While acknowledging the current fiscal constraints, the European cultural associations highlighted that Creative Europe is not a major expenditure line; it is a strategic, low-risk investment with cross-sectoral impact.

The cultural sector urges the Council of the European Union to reverse the proposed budget cut to Creative Europe, the EU’s sole dedicated instrument for cultural funding. On the contrary, the signatories call for additional funding to be allocated to the Creative Europe programme for the 2026 financial year to ensure the programme can carry out its objectives and not reject future outstanding, high-quality project applications. Finally, the associations believe that 2% of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) should be allocated to European cultural content creation and the reinforcement of Europe’s democratic cultural ecosystem, both through AgoraEU and across other funding programmes.

List of signatories

Culture Action Europe

Arty Farty
CEATL — European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations
Circostrada — European Network for Contemporary Circus and Outdoor Arts
ECSA — European Composer and Songwriter Alliance
EFA — European Festivals Association
EIBF — European and International Booksellers Federation
EMMA — European Music Managers Alliance
EURead — European Reading Promotion and Literacy Network
Europa Nostra
European Choral Association
European Cultural Foundation
European Music Council
European Music School
Union European Network of Cultural Centres
European Theatre Convention
European Writers’ Council
Europe Jazz Network
Federation of European Publishers
IETM — International Network for Contemporary Performing Arts
JMI — Jeunesses Musicales International
Michael Culture Association
NEMO — Network of European Museum Organisations
On the Move
Opera Europa
Pearle — Live Performance Europe*
REMA — European Early Music Network
Reset! Network
Trans Europe Halles
YOUROPE — The European Festival Association

Read the full letter