Europe’s culture, media and civil society organisations call for increased AgoraEU budget

EDN is among the over 500 European organisations that have signed a joint letter calling for an increase in funding for the AgoraEU programme in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), running from 2028-2034.

The letter, sent on 8 April 2026, highlights the strategic importance of investing in culture, independent media and civil society as pillars of Europe’s democratic resilience.

AgoraEU is the European Commission’s proposal to bring together funding for culture, the audiovisual sector and media (currently under Creative Europe) with support for fundamental rights, democratic participation, and anti‑discrimination efforts (currently under the CERV programme). 
Despite its strategic importance, the AgoraEU programme currently represents only approximately the 0.43% of the next long-term EU budget.

The letter emphasises that culture, media and civil society form essential democratic infrastructure, especially in a moment marked by geopolitical instability, rising inequalities, declining trust in institutions, and increasing threats from information manipulation and anti‑democratic actors. It also urges the Council and the Commission to work closely with the European Parliament to secure an ambitious final budget for AgoraEU to achieve one that can be capable of strengthening Europe’s cultural vitality, democratic resilience and social cohesion in the years ahead.

• Read the full letter
  
  
• Sign the letter - If your organisation also believes in the need for a substantial increase in funding for the AgoraEU programme.