“Culture is not a luxury. It is a necessity,” said Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during this week’s meeting of EU culture ministers in Brussels, where they discussed the new Culture Compass initiative.
Addressing her European counterparts, Mendoni called for a “new narrative” for Europe, one rooted in culture as a fundamental pillar not just of social and economic development, but also of resilience and security.
“Culture must be a horizontal policy, running through all basic EU strategies,” she said, adding that the time had come “to treat it as a strategic planning factor”.
Minister Mendoni called for the institutionalization of mandatory cultural impact assessments in every European policy. She also proposed establishing specific indicators to measure freedom of expression, social participation, and cohesion within cultural sectors.
As part of the EU’s new Culture Compass framework, Greece is advocating the creation of a European Innovation Hub for Cultural Resilience, which would coordinate cultural institutions and research bodies to enhance crisis response and foster innovation.
Support for Artists and Youth
Highlighting the role of cultural heritage, Mendoni said it represented not only the past but also a compass for a sustainable and inclusive European future. She also called for culture to be integrated into the EU’s environmental and digital transitions, including its defense against disinformation and cultural erosion.
The Culture Compass is intended to serve as a strategic tool for strengthening the coherence of EU cultural policy, increasing visibility of EU cultural action, and unlocking the economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors.
During the session, the Council of Culture Ministers also adopted conclusions aimed at supporting young artists, including facilitating entry into the labor market; ensuring stable income opportunities; promoting inclusivity for minorities and vulnerable groups; and expanding access to financial tools and professional training.
Ministers also approved updates to the legal framework for audiovisual media platforms to better protect minors, combat online disinformation, and ensure media pluralism.
Looking Ahead: Greece’s 2027 EU Presidency Agenda
Ahead of the council meeting, Mendoni held talks with Lithuanian and Irish counterparts Sarunas Birutis and Patrick O’Donovan. Greece, Ireland, and Lithuania will assume consecutive presidencies of the EU Council from mid-2026 to the end of 2027.
During its term, Mendoni said Greece would be prioritizing combating illicit trafficking of cultural property; safeguarding cultural heritage from climate change; defending the rights of artists within the EU; and examining the role of AI in cultural policy.
