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Service for Foreign Policy Instruments
News article1 April 2016Service for Foreign Policy Instruments1 min read

NEW EUROPEAN CULTURAL DIPLOMACY PLATFORM LAUNCHED

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Brussels, 31 March 2016 – A Cultural Diplomacy Platform was launched to enhance the European Union’s engagement with third countries and their citizens.

"Cultural diplomacy is an integral part of our common foreign policy", said Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign affairs and Security Policy/Vice- President of the European Commission, and thus forms an essential part of how Europe engages with partners around the world.

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform follows the recommendations of the Preparatory Action “Culture in EU’s external relations”1, voted for by the European Parliament and implemented by the European Commission in 2013-14. It is designed to strengthen the ability of the EU to engage meaningfully with audiences and stakeholders in third countries, through cultural diplomacy activities, by supporting and advising EU institutions, including the EU Delegations across the globe and by setting up a global cultural leadership programme.

It will also promote and facilitate durable cultural exchanges, people-to-people activities and co-creation processes between Europeans and citizens from countries all over the world. Coinciding with the current reflection on the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy and the preparation of an EU strategic approach to international cultural relations, the Cultural Diplomacy Platform will ultimately enhance a widespread understanding and visibility of the Union and its role on the world scene.

Background

The Cultural Diplomacy Platform has been officially launched with the signature of the agreement between the European Commission and the Consortium leader, the Goethe-Institut, on 26th January 2016. This 2-year project is financed with a EUR 939.800 service contract under the Public Diplomacy component of the 2015 Annual Action Programme of the Partnership Instrument.

Recent updates

Cultural Leadership Programme - call for participants (deadline 25 March 2017)

Cultural Leadership Programme - call for participants (deadline August 1st 2016)

More information and official documents

Preparatory Action "Culture in EU’s external relations"
Legal documents on the “Cultural Diplomacy Platform”

Information about the partners of the consortium

Contact

  • For the Goethe-Institut – Antonia Blau, Head of EU Office Goethe-Institut Brussels, antonia [dot] blauatbruessel [dot] goethe [dot] org (antonia[dot]blau[at]bruessel[dot]goethe[dot]org)
  • For the European Commission, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI) – Pietro De Matteis, Pietro [dot] De-Matteisatec [dot] europa [dot] eu (Pietro[dot]De-Matteis[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

Details

Publication date
1 April 2016
Author
Service for Foreign Policy Instruments