Culture plays a fundamental role in human life. It is also an essential source of identity, at local, regional, national and European levels, while making a significant contribution to the EU economy. EU cultural policy relates to cultural heritage, but also to the cultural and creative sector. The EU supports culture through a variety of initiatives, including the European Capitals of Culture scheme. A number of EU programmes also offer funding for cultural projects, for instance the Creative Europe programme, Horizon Europe and New European Bauhaus. As one of the sectors of the economy worst affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the EU included culture in its coronavirus response investment initiatives and the REACT-EU programme aimed at dealing with the consequences of the pandemic. The European Parliament has called for increased support for culture as part of the post-pandemic recovery efforts.

EPRS policy podcast - Culture and regional development

With its recent European Green Deal framework, the EU is striving to achieve climate neutrality in its economy by 2050 and, simultaneously, bring itself on the path of recovery from the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology will inevitably play a significant part in this process. However, historical experience tells us that culture and aesthetic have too had significant roles in recovery from a crises, be it war, economic recession, or an epidemic.

EPRS STOA podcast - What If Technology And Culture Combined To Boost A Green Recovery?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has slowly but surely made its way (also) in the world of cultural heritage and museums. The results are both promising and surprising: reconstructing a piece of art, completing an unfinished composition of a great musician, identifying the author of an ancient text, or providing architectural details for a potential reconstruction of the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral would have seemed like science fiction just a few years ago. The EU has a rich cultural heritage, and its numerous top museums and works of art are a precious resource for its cultural and creative industry. Yet, it depends on the United States for its online cultural platforms and on Asia for its equipment.

EPRS podcast policy - Artificial intelligence in the context of cultural heritage and museums

The digital age has had a profound impact on many sectors, and culture is no exception! It has opened new and exciting opportunities for cultural industries… but it has also raised new challenges, related to skills, accessibility or affordability.

EPRS policy podcast - Digital culture − Access issues

Europe’s many world-class historical and cultural sites are preserved and handed down through the generations also thanks to the work of dedicated professionals.

This is what Europe does for cultural heritage professionals

If you are involved in bringing art and culture to your rural area and helping local culture thrive, you will know that this can be challenging. But support is available from the EU. Here are a few examples

This is what Europe does for people promoting culture in rural areas

Do you never miss any of the major sports competitions on television? The EU helps you with that.

This is what Europe does for fans of major sports and cultural events

Four in ten European tourists choose their holiday destinations on the basis of the cultural sites or museums they would like to visit. The EU supports these sites and helps them link up with similar sites in cross-border areas.

This is what Europe does for cultural tourists

If you are a transnational or expatriate in a European country, your children might speak more than one language and have a broader world view. Yet, they could face some issues as a result of globalisation.

This is what Europe does for third culture kids

<p>The constitutive meetings of the European Parliament's standing committees and subcommittees take place in Brussels on 10 July 2019, following the appointment of their members in the plenary sitting of 3-4 July. During the meetings, each committee and subcommittee will elect its respective bureau, made up of a Chair and Vice-Chairs, for a two-and-a-half year mandate. The newly set up committees will then start holding their regular meetings during the week of 22 July.</p>

CULT - Committee on Culture and Education

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<p><strong>Cultural heritage plays an important role in the history and identity of Europe’s countries and indeed of the continent as a whole. It is a vital part of Europe’s economy and promoting cultural treasures will help to boost growth and employment.</strong></p>

<p>The EU has made 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage to highlight the diversity, shared history and rich cultures that make Europe today.<br />
Throughout 2018, we will celebrate our diverse cultural heritage across Europe - at EU, national, regional and local level. The aim of the European Year of Cultural Heritage is to encourage more people to discover and engage with Europe's cultural heritage, and to reinforce a sense of belonging to a common European space. The slogan for the year is: Our heritage: where the past meets the future.</p>
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Cultural Heritage

<p>Margaritis Schinas, born on 28 July 1962 in Thessaloniki, is a Greek civil servant and politician. He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2007 to 2009. Schinas is Vice-President-designate and Commissioner-designate for Promoting our European Way of Life.</p>

<p>After the hearing by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate.</p>

Hearing of Margaritis SCHINAS, Vice-President-designate, Protecting our Eur

<p>Mariya Gabriel, born on 20 May 1979 in Gotse Delchev, is a Bulgarian politician. She has been a European Commissioner since 2017.</p>

<p>After the hearing by the Committees on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and on Culture and Education (CULT) of the European Parliament, the committees prepare an evaluation letter on the candidate. Parliament is expected to vote on the new Commission as a whole on 23 October.</p>

Hearing of Mariya GABRIEL, Commissioner-designate, Innovation and Youth

Roxana Mînzatu was Romanian Minister for European Funds in 2019. From January 2022 until July 2024, she served as Secretary of State coordinating the Department for Integrated Evaluation and Monitoring of Public Funded Programs. She is Member of the European Parliament since July 2024 but now, she is Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, for the von der Leyen Commission II.

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President designate, People, Skills and Preparedness

Confirmation hearing of Glenn MICALLEF, Commissioner-designate, Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

CULT - Presentation of the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council

Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

CULT

Joint public hearing: The State of Media in the EU and Media Resilience – Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield and Committee on Culture and Education meeting

EUDS

Joint EMPL-CULT meeting- EoV with Minzatu

EMPL

Press point with the winning filmmaker, Culture and Education Committee chair Nela Riehl and EFA chair Mike Downey

Committee on Culture and Education Extraordinary meeting

Committee on Culture and Education

Press point by Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, Germany), Chair of CULT,and Li ANDERSSON (The Left, Finland), Chair of EMPL, following the confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Preparedness

EP Plenary session - European Citizens' Initiative 'Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures'

REGI - Public hearing on the European citizens’ initiative “Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures.

CULT - Public hearing on ' Empowering creators in the age of AI '

CULT - Public hearing on ' Enhancing media literacy for the digital age'

EP Plenary session - European Cultural Compass as a driving force for economic competitiveness and resilience

CULT - Structured Dialogue with Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu

CULT- Exchange of views with 2025 European Youth Capital - Lviv, Ukraine

CULT - Structured Dialogue with Commissioner Glenn Micallef

CULT - Presentation of the Priorities of the Polish Presidency of the Council

CULT - Presentations on the European Capitals of Culture 2024

CULT - Presentation of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council

ITRE - Presentation of the Council Presidency’s programme - Exchange of views with Balázs HANKÓ, Hungarian Minister for Culture and Innovation

EMPL CULT -  Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, European Commissioner-designate forPeople, Skills and Preparedness - Press point

EMPL CULT -  Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, European Commissioner-designate forPeople, Skills and Preparedness

CULT - Confirmation hearing of Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner-designate for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport - Press point

CULT - Confirmation hearing of Glenn MICALLEF, European Commissioner-designate for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport

LUX European Audience Film Award 2025 - Meeting with the Vice-President in charge of LUX Audience Award and with the Chair and Members of the CULT Committee

A delegation of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) visits Bratislava, Slovakia, from 2-3 of June in order to discuss and gain insight into the latest developments as regards the situation of democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights in Slovakia. This is a follow up on two sessions which the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group (DRFMG) of the LIBE Committee held recently on the situation in Slovakia. The delegation is composed of representatives of five political groups in the European Parliament. The LIBE delegation aims to hold meetings with representatives from the Slovak Government, representatives of the Slovak National Assembly, representatives of the judiciary and of other relevant authorities, organisations and stakeholders. This news item shows extracts from the meeting between the LIBE delegation and Martina ŠIMKOVIČOVÁ, Slovak Minister of Culture.

LIBE rule of law mission to Bratislava (Slovakia): meeting with Martina ŠIMKOVIČOVÁ, Slovak Minister of Culture

Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA , DE), Chair of European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), Gregory ZALCMAN, producer, Ron DYENS, producer, and Rihards ZAĻUPE, composer of the LUX Audience Award winner "Flow", and Mike DOWNEY, Chair of the European Film Academy, give a joint press point after the LUX Audience Award 2025. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press point by Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE), Chair of CULT Committee, producers and composer of the LUX Audience Award winner "Flow", and by Mike DOWNEY, Chair of the European Film Academy

This video from the LUX Audience Award 2025 begins with the announcement of the 5 finalists by the moderators, and is followed by trailers of the movies and addresses by the 5 finalists. Screnning of the Lux Award retrospective video 2025, announcement of the winner by Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE), Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT), and photo with the winner.

LUX Audience Award 2025 ceremony: retrospective video 2025, announcement of the winner by Nela RIEHL (Greens/EFA, DE), Chair of the CULT Committee, and photo of the winninf film's team "Flow"

Sabine VERHEYEN, (EPP, DE), EP Vice-President appears during the ceremony in a video message on the LUX Audience Award 2025, followed by an opening statement by Nela RIEHL, (Greens/EFA, PT), Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education (CULT).

LUX Audience Award 2025 ceremony: video message by Sabine VERHEYEN, (EPP, DE), EP Vice-President, and opening statement by Nela RIEHL, (Greens/EFA, PT), Chair of the CULT Committee

This video is a news item resuming extracts from the LUX audience award 2025 ceremony. The award celebrates European cinema and it aims to engage and debate with the larger European public on important societal subjects reflecting our common European values such as democracy, rule of law, pluralism and freedom of expression.

LUX Audience Award 2025: extracts from the ceremony

CULT Chair, Nela RIEHL, visited Lviv, in Ukraine, for the opening of the European Youth Capital, among other activities.

CULT Chair, Nela RIEHL opens of the European Youth Capital in Lviv, Ukraine

&lt;p>From 4th to 12th November 2024, the European Parliament held the Confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate, in Brussels. For 3 hours, MEPs quizzed the candidates for the College of Commissioners on their priorities ahead of the new mandate given by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission. This clip highlights the best pictures from the 26 confirmation hearings.&lt;/p>

Highlights of the hearings of the Commissioners-designate (2024)

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy speaks to the press after she was heard by Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) which participated as joint committees.

Press point by Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), and Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. At the end of the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN makes a closing statement followed by the one from the Committee chair.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: closing statement by Henna VIRKKUNEN and Committee chair

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN answers questions by committee members.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 5)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 4)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 3)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 2)

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: questions / answers (part 1)

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. During the confirmation hearing, Henna VIRKKUNEN makes an opening statement and then answers questions by committee members. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: opening statement

Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) of the European Parliament. Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI), Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) and Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) participate as joint committees. Ambiance of the arrivals and opening statements by Committees Chairs

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: arrivals and opening statements by Committees Chairs

Ambience shots of the Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.

Confirmation hearing of Henna VIRKKUNEN, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: atmosphere shots

Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness, of the VON DER LEYEN Commission is heard by the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) and Culture and Education (CULT). Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery. .

Confirmation hearing of Roxana MÎNZATU, Executive Vice-President-designate of the European Commission for People, Skills and Preparedness: Closing statement by Commissioner-designate and Committees Chairs

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