Research for CULT Committee – EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations

Briefing 15-02-2017

In the joint communication “Towards an EU strategy for international cultural relations” from 8 June 2016, the Commission and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy have drawn up a strategy for the EU’s international cultural relations, departing from “showcasing” and working towards a cooperative peer-to-peer learning approach. The Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) and the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) have decided to draw up an own-initiative report on the strategy. CULT strongly advocated the development of this strategy throughout the last few years, as evidenced by a relevant EP resolution and a preparatory action. This briefing gives an overview of the policy developments that led to the new strategy, summarises the strategy itself and points out crucial elements and challenges that could be addressed in the own-initiative report.