FIAD Joins Cross-Sectoral Call to Safeguard and Strengthen Creative Europe
- alina.popescu
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
FIAD has joined more than 70 European associations and over 200 national cultural organisations in signing an open letter to the Presidents of the EU institutions and national governments ahead of negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. This broad-based coalition calls on EU leaders to preserve the Creative Europe programme as a stand-alone, well-funded pillar of EU action, and to significantly scale up investment in culture across the Union.
The letter includes three core demands:
To retain Creative Europe as a dedicated programme with its own identity, objectives, and governance structure, rather than folding it into broader policy clusters or funding umbrellas;
To double the budget of Creative Europe in the next MFF to reflect the growing cultural, social, and economic relevance of the sector;
To commit to allocating 2% of the overall EU budget to culture, thereby placing it on par with other core priorities such as digitalisation, climate, and innovation.
The open letter emphasises that culture is a strategic asset for the EU’s democratic resilience, social cohesion, and international credibility. At a time of increasing geopolitical tension and societal polarisation, cultural cooperation and exchange remain among the most powerful tools Europe has to build trust and dialogue—both internally and on the global stage.
FIAD supports the letter’s message in full and draws particular attention to the role of theatrical film distribution within Creative Europe’s MEDIA Strand. As FIAD has regularly highlighted in its advocacy, film distributors are key enablers of cultural diversity and market access for European works. The current system of territorial exclusivity allows distributors to invest in localised promotion, dubbing and subtitling, and cinema partnerships—making sure that European films are not only produced but also seen by audiences across the continent.
As discussions over the next MFF take shape, FIAD urges EU policymakers not to lose sight of the real-world impact of Creative Europe. It is the backbone of many smaller players in the cultural and creative sectors, particularly SMEs, who depend on co-financing mechanisms and cross-border cooperation to remain competitive.
FIAD will continue to advocate for a stand-alone, well-resourced MEDIA Strand, and looks forward to working with the Commission, Parliament and Member States to ensure that the next EU budget reflects the central role of culture—and the professionals who bring it to life—in building the future of Europe.
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