EU’s International Cultural Relations Reality Check
On 22 September at 5 p.m. CET, culture Solutions’ webinar EU’s International Cultural Relations Reality Check presented the handbook “The EU as a Global Cultural Power” (De Gruyter, 2025).
The event featured editor Mafalda Dâmaso alongside three contributing authors: Avril Joffe, Andrew Murray, and Alessandro Lamonica.
Together, we reflected on:
- The current state of EU international cultural relations
- The challenges of bridging strategy and practice
- How cultural cooperation can address power imbalances in global partnerships
This special webinar offered first-hand insights into how the EU’s policy framework for international cultural relations (ICR) is evolving in response to changing economic and geopolitical dynamics. It also explored how the EU and its partners engage within the ICR framework, and examine the roles and opportunities for various actors to adapt to emerging trends and challenges, while continuing to promote an approach grounded in trust and fairness.
Your insights, feedback, and perspectives were invaluable to this discussion! If you were not able to join us or would like to revisit the discussions, you can access the recording of the webinar on our YouTube page.
Event details
Date: 22 September 2025
Time: 5 pm CET
Recording: EU’s International Cultural Relations: Reality check
Guest speakers
Mafalda Dâmaso, Part-time Professor at the European University Institute, editor of the handbook “The EU as a Global Cultural Power”
Avril Joffe, Independent professional researcher and UNESCO Chair in Cultural Entrepreneurship and Policy at the University of the Witwatersrand
Andrew Murray, Independent consultant and former director of EUNIC Global (2015-2018)
Alessandro Lamonica, Manager of the Public Policies Unit at the Anna Lindh Foundation and Adjunct Professor at the Brussels School of Governance