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EU Commissioner for Youth, Culture, Sport, and Gender Equality Glenn Micallef stated that the European Union must allocate more funds to culture, as it is vital for security.
Micallef made this statement in an interview with Politico, as reported by Ukrinform.
He emphasized that the funding for the Creative Europe program, which has a budget of €2.44 billion for the 2021–2027 period, should be increased in the next seven-year EU budget.
According to Micallef, discussions about the 2028–2034 budget are becoming increasingly heated, with calls to spend more on defense and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness. However, cultural funding should not be overlooked.
“Culture is an integral part of our efforts to develop democracy and strengthen the European Union, including our security in Europe,” he said. “This is a program that needs reinforcement, and I will continue to advocate for this position.”
The EU Commissioner cited Ukraine as an example, where Russia is attacking cultural and historical sites in an attempt to destabilize the country.
“If they want to destroy a nation, if they want to erase a country from the face of the earth, they attack its culture,” he noted.
Last week, Micallef visited Ukraine and participated in an event dedicated to protecting cultural heritage amid the Russian invasion.
“On the night before we crossed the border into Ukraine, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Odesa was destroyed, deliberately targeted by the Russians,” the Commissioner said.
Micallef also pointed out that attacks on cultural facilities and artists are occurring in EU countries, mentioning Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Portugal.
“I want to focus on promoting the value of artistic freedom and artistic self-expression. And we will defend it, of course, wherever it is under attack,” he added.
Creative Europe is an EU program supporting cultural, creative, and audiovisual sectors. Its main goals are to protect, develop, and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage while enhancing the competitiveness and economic potential of these sectors.
As Ukrinform previously reported, the first international conference on culture, Cooperation for Resilience, took place in Uzhhorod. The event brought together representatives from over 20 countries, including EU Commissioner Glenn Micallef.
