The European Commission, in a decision published on 13 July 2026, has replied to the Romanian Camera Deputaților's opinion on the 'Culture Compass for Europe' (COM(2025) 785 final), confirming how the strategy addresses the parliament's priorities on culture, youth, multilingualism and artistic freedom. The reply, adopted as Commission Decision C(2026)5068, outlines a series of concrete actions under the strategic framework that places culture at the heart of EU policy.
The Culture Compass, adopted amid geopolitical, technological, environmental, democratic and security challenges, proposes a flagship interinstitutional Joint Declaration 'Europe for Culture, Culture for Europe'. The Commission will support culture through the AgoraEU programme 2028-2034, merging Creative Europe and CERV with a substantial budgetary increase. It also plans guidelines on strategic investment in cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSIs), a regular EU State of Culture Report monitoring artistic freedom, and an EU Artists Charter.
On multilingualism, the Commission will promote it via the European Day of Languages, Erasmus+, and the Alliance for Language Technologies. New actions include a voluntary framework for mutual recognition of cultural passes for young people and a common European data space for cultural heritage. The Commission will review the 2019 Directive on copyright in the Digital Single Market and plan a dedicated AI strategy for CCSIs. International cooperation will continue via the Cultural Relations Platform, EUNIC network, and EU4Culture Programme in the Eastern Neighbourhood, with a strategy update consulting Member States.
The reply directly addresses the Romanian parliament's concerns, confirming that the Commission will implement the Culture Compass through new funding, monitoring, digital and international actions. The decision impacts EU cultural institutions and national authorities, which will need to align with the new framework; cultural and creative industries, which will benefit from increased investment and digital support; young people, who may gain from cultural pass recognition; and EU taxpayers, who fund the AgoraEU programme. The Commission's next steps include launching the Joint Declaration and preparing the legislative proposals for AgoraEU, with the European Parliament and Council expected to scrutinise the budgetary and regulatory implications.