Activities of the European Union

Violinist © Rossen Donev - Varna Summer Music Festival

A young performer at the international music festival in Varna, Bulgaria.

Economic significance

With Europe's cultural and creative industries, important sources of revenue and jobs (over 8 million people), the EU runs support programmes for some cultural industries, encouraging them to grasp opportunities offered by the integrated EU market and digital technologies.

It also strives to create a dynamic environment for these industries by:

cutting red tape
providing easier access to funding
helping with research projects
encouraging cooperation with partners inside and outside the EU.

In addition, there is a cultural component in many EU policy areas, such as education (including language-learning), scientific research, support for IT and communications technologies, social policy and regional development.

Culture and regional revival

For example, as part of its regional policy, the EU helps pay for music schools, concert halls and recording studios. It also funded the restoration of historic theatres including the Teatro del Liceu in Barcelona and the Fenice in Venice, both damaged by fire in the 1990s.

In its guidelines for the European Regional Development Fund, the Commission asks EU governments to promote cultural development in poorer regions to help them assert their identity, attract tourists and create jobs in areas like online services and the media.

Woman restoring monument © Van Parys Media

The EU helps restore Europe's cultural heritage.

The EU Culture programme

The current programme runs from 2007 to 2013 with a total budget for the period of around €400 million. It covers all non-audiovisualcultural activities, and aims to:

promote awareness and preservation of cultural goods with 'European significance'
help people working in the cultural industries to live and work in other European countries
make it easier for works and cultural and artistic products to circulate freely around the EU
stimulate dialogue between different cultures.

European Capitals of culture

Every year, 2 cities are nominated European Capitals of Culture.

This title gives the cities a unique opportunity to celebrate their European identity, improve their cooperation with both national and foreign cultural bodies and generally make their cultural life more vivid and attractive.

Various events take place in the city during the year in any cultural field. Experience shows the capital of culture year has long-term benefits for the city's cultural, social and economic development.