Luxembourg Calls for Simplified Access to ‘Creative Europe’ Programme

On Tuesday 13 May 2025, Luxembourg’s Minister for Culture, Eric Thill, attended the meeting of the EU Council of Culture Ministers, in Brussels, Belgium. 

In a press release, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture reported that the ministers continued the discussions they had initiated at their informal meeting in early April in Warsaw, Poland on the future of European cultural policy. The ministers discussed the future of the Creative Europe programme, the main instrument supporting the European cultural, creative and audiovisual sector, the current edition of which expires at the end of 2026. The ministers also discussed its objectives, structure and possible future adjustments to this programme. Regarding the European Commission's preparation of a "Culture Compass," the ministers highlighted the points they believe should be incorporated into this new strategic approach for culture in Europe.

As Minister Thill emphasised, these two topics are intrinsically linked to the importance of culture in the European project. Regarding the future of "Creative Europe," the minister called, among other things, for simplified access to the programme and greater attention to emerging or small organisations, as well as individual artists.

Regarding the "Culture Compass," Minister Thill recalled the positions he expressed in Warsaw, emphasising in particular that this document should not only reflect the EU's vision for culture, but also the vision of culture for the EU: "The Compass must be a tool, not an end in itself. It must realistically reflect how to support cultural actors, artists and cultural professionals so that they can be citizens and work freely and thus contribute to the European project. This is how Europe can become this 'cultural powerhouse’”.

Among other items on the Council's agenda, the Culture Ministers also adopted conclusions aimed at facilitating access to the labour market for young artists.