As Europe stands at the crossroads of global disruption and internal transformation, 2025 emerges as a defining year for cultural policy in the European Union. The launch of the Cultural Compass, a new strategic framework initiated by the European Commission, highlights a profound shift in the way Europe sees and handles its cultural future.
This is more than just a policy. It is a new deal for Europe’s soul, and it couldn’t come at a more critical moment.
At Mad’in Europe, we have spent over a decade building bridges between those who create, restore, and safeguard Europe’s cultural and craft heritage. With a network of more than 1,600 professionals and organizations across the continent, we know firsthand the vital role artisans and cultural specialists play—not only in preserving our traditions, but in shaping a sustainable and resilient future.
“If global and societal changes, including climate challenges and the growing inequalities, demand cross-sectoral action, then culture is both a diagnostic tool and a responsive mechanism to interpret complex transformations and provide innovative solutions"
Culture as a guiding star
The Cultural Compass, championed by Commissioner Glenn Micallef, aims to harness the full potential of culture as a transformative force. It outlines three foundational goals: defining Europe’s cultural values, unlocking creative potential, and addressing urgent societal challenges. These are not abstract ambitions — they reflect the very real work being done every day by artists, craftspeople, educators, and cultural actors across Europe.
“If global and societal changes, including climate challenges and the growing inequalities, demand cross-sectoral action, then culture is both a diagnostic tool and a responsive mechanism to interpret complex transformations and provide innovative solutions,” Micallef said, signalling the direction for EU cultural policy.
This vision resonates deeply with Mad’in Europe’s mission. We believe that traditional know-how is not a relic, but a powerful resource for innovation, sustainability, and identity-building in the 21st century. Our projects, from engaging youth in crafts to promoting sustainable practices, demonstrate how heritage can be a living engine of renewal.
A Cultural Deal for Europe
The Cultural Compass initiative connects with ongoing discussions around the Cultural Deal for Europe, a collective push to embed culture into the EU’s broader strategic priorities — most importantly, the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). This long-term budget will determine not only how much the EU invests in culture, but how it defines its values in a world increasingly marked by division and uncertainty.
The Cultural Deal for Europe is spearheaded by Culture Action Europe, Europa Nostra, and the European Cultural Foundation, who jointly call on European policymakers to:
Establish culture and cultural heritage as a priority at the highest level of EU institutions
Commit at least 2% of the EU budget to culture and cultural heritage
These are not just symbolic demands, they are necessary investments in the social fabric, cohesion, and creativity of Europe.
On March 20, Commissioner Micallef convened a high-level stakeholder meeting in Brussels on the new Culture Compass for Europe, the Commission’s future guiding framework for cultural policy actions. The event brought together representatives from more than 50 organisations across Europe’s cultural and creative sectors. Alongside Micallef, the meeting featured key cultural policymakers including Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament’s CULT Committee, and Marta Cienkowska, Undersecretary of State for Culture representing the Polish Presidency of the Council.
The message from the ground was clear: culture is essential to Europe’s democratic, peaceful, and pluralistic identity. In a time of war, social fragmentation, and political polarization, culture offers tools to rebuild trust, dialogue, and cohesion.
Where do we go from here?
The answers must be bold. Europe needs to invest not only in infrastructure and innovation, but in meaning—in the things that bring us together and give us purpose. Cultural heritage, with its rich layers of memory, craft, and continuity, is our foundation. Without it, there can be no vision for the future.
At Mad’in Europe we are prepared to share our expertise, connections, and enthusiasm. By doing research, teaching, or providing practical assistance to artisans, we are contributing to the development of a more interconnected and culturally dynamic Europe.
The Cultural Compass is a helpful guide, but it will only be realized if we all work together.
By Regina Garcia Nunez
