culture Solutions contributes to the external dimension of EU cultural action, including both cultural relations and cultural diplomacy. However, in most instances these relations are developed on a bi-lateral or bi-regional basis.
Bi-lateral & bi-regional cultural relations
15 May 2026
cS Brief #16: Trump 2.0 implications for EU soft power and international cultural relations strategy
The second mandate of President Trump and the MAGA movement have brought about political and cultural tensions in the transatlantic relationship, and impacted both the United States (US) and European Union (EU) soft power. In the context of negotiations of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, cS brief #16 makes recommendations for the upcoming EU international cultural relations (ICR) strategy. It argues that the Trump 2.0 presidency is actively dismantling key components of US soft power, traditionally rooted in cultural attractiveness and global influence.
16 April 2026
Research report #3: Rethinking Africa-Europe cultural relations: Toward an AU–EU cultural cooperation fit for the future
From January to November 2025, culture Solutions experts Elise Cuny, Damien Helly, and Linda Mbeki conducted a joint research project with the South African Cultural Observatory, examining trends shaping cultural relations between Africa and Europe. The research was supported by the Africa-Europe Foundation as part of the AEF’s multiannual strategic research programme implemented in partnership with leading think tanks and research institutes. This report is one of two deliverables from the project.
17 February 2026
Cultural relations under strain: Montenegro, Turkey and the EU: the resurgence of memory
This article examines how developments in 2025 reshaped cultural relations between Montenegro and Turkey, placing these changes within the broader context of EU enlargement and international cultural relations in the Western Balkans. Drawing on research into cultural engagement, collective memory, and EU accession processes, it explores how culture, heritage restoration, faith-based initiatives, and community-level exchanges increasingly intersect with contested historical narratives, identity debates, and mobility governance.
14 January 2026
From Europe to India: Tracing cultural routes across continents
In this article, Lakshmi tells the story of a forgotten pilgrimage route in Tamil Nadu, India. It builds on the research undertaken during her Master’s thesis, which provides a detailed exploration of the Chatrams’ historical development, architectural typologies, patronage patterns, and cultural significance. She engaged with local communities through a survey and interviews. Seventy responses captured perceptions of the heritage’s value, personal connections to it, assessments of the Chatrams’ condition, and ideas for their future.
3 November 2025
cS Brief #15: Africa-Europe cultural and creative partnerships: a draft joint strategy
cS Brief #15 presents the blue-print for a new Africa-Europe cultural strategy. The draft strategy proposes concrete pathways for the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU) institutions and member states to jointly address common challenges and opportunities and to design a smart, resilient, AI-proof and impact-driven framework for cooperation that fully embeds and strengthens cultural relations and creative partnerships. It builds on an eight-month research project conducted jointly by culture Solutions and the South African Cultural Observatory with the support of the Africa-Europe Foundation under the AEF Research Facility, exploring the creative economy and the untapped potential of cultural cooperation between African and European youth.
24 July 2025
cS Brief #14: Recentering the human and cultural dimension in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership: the Pact for the Mediterranean, a not-to-be-missed opportunity
cS brief #14 builds on the first dialogue for the new Pact for the Mediterranean, organised by the Anna Lindh Foundation and the European Commission.
Thirty years after the Barcelona Declaration, cooperation with civil society and cultural actors in the Euro-Med region faces growing challenges. While the EU’s approach has evolved —with the creation of DG MENA and a renewed focus on reciprocity— these efforts unfold amid regional instability and shrinking civic space, making long-term engagement more difficult.
11 april 2025
Deconfining Coffee Chat: Africa-Europe cultural relations
The Deconfining Coffee Chat on 11 April 2025 explored the challenges and opportunities in Africa-Europe cultural cooperation, with a particular focus on cultural ecosystems, as a result of culture Solutions’ and SACO’s joint research project.
20 November 2024
cS Proposal #2: Skills Foresight: The Creative Economy and Untapped Potential of Cultural Cooperation for Africa-Europe Youth
The research project by the South African Cultural Observatory and culture Solutions focuses on assessing the state of cultural cooperation between the EU and Africa (looking at the AU-EU partnership, regional and national projects) and its implications and adequacy for creative youth in the cultural and creative sectors, in a pressing context of digital transformation.
22-24 July 2023
EU-LAC cultural diplomacy and cultural relations
After the EU-CELAC Summit, the first blog post focuses on the cultural components of the New Agenda for EU-LAC relations and other EU programmes, as well as the role of Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU. The second post uncovers the flourishing collaboration at the grass-roots level, drawing a list of recommendations from the key take-aways of the EU-LAC Forum.
12 July 2023
Composing trust #2: EU-Turkey cultural relations – what next?
Although in the last twenty years relations between the EU and Turkey have become more tense and complicated (e.g. management of migration flows, political dialogue on Human Rights), this has not prevented cultural professionals from continuing their cooperation work. The podcast episode provides a rich set of lessons learnt and good practice in cultural projects management, in the context of Erdogan’s electoral victory.
17 November 2022
Les nouveaux modèles européens de la culture: l’exemple de Tfanen – Tunisie créative
This blog post was prepared by Damien Helly in the framework of his participation in the 2021/22 session of the Cycle des Hautes Etudes de la Culture (CHEC) of the French Ministry of Culture. This piece looks back at the example of the EU-funded programme Tfanen-Tunisie créative as a source of inspiration to refresh French external cultural action through joined-up EU initiatives.
20 June 2022
Post-Ukraine Cultural Mediterranean: Still curious?
Damien Helly summarises his speech at the Naples Conference of the Ministers of Culture of the Mediterranean, where he exchanged ideas on fostering innovation and sustainability, cross-border and regional cooperation, and long-standing partnerships to consolidate socio-economic Resilience of the Cultural and Creative sectors in the Southern Partnership Region.
February – May 2022
First Africa-Europe Week and 6th Europe Africa Business Forum (EABF)
culture Solutions’ Training and know-how sharing team participated in the assessment of the different culture-related events that had a meaningful place in the Week and the Business Forum agenda. Reflecting on the main takeaways, the team highlights three tips to reset the AU-EU cultural relations partnership, a list of five priorities for Africa-Europe cultural relations programming, the building of new spaces for inclusive cultural relations dialogue, and the main trends in EU-AU cultural relations.
24 February 2022
Act fast: War in Ukraine and EU international cultural relations
“After hearing for weeks that Russia would attack Ukraine, full war does not come as a surprise. While I was wondering what I could do after reading the news this morning, I told myself I had at least to write this unplanned blog post, and be late at work.” writes Damien Helly in his piece posted in the first hours of the war.
18 February 2022
EU-China cultural diplomacy: room for improvement in troubled times?
This blog by Ina Kokinova looks at the state of play of cultural diplomacy between the EU and the People’s Republic of China. Looking backward at the Beijing Olympics and forward to the EU-China summit in April 2022, the article emphasises the value of cultural cooperation rather than competition, despite the increasing geopolitical tensions.
June 2021 – January 2022
ACP-EU Culture Webinar: Towards a sustainable cultural and creative industry in African, Caribbean and Pacific countries
After culture Solutions supported the organisation of the international webinar, the first blog aims to inform about current trends and opportunities in the ACP-EU Culture programme. The second blog summarises the main take-aways and lessons learned from the seminar, clustered around 5 themes (digital acceleration, CCI economics, access to culture, decent employment and sustainability).
10 May 2021
EU-US Cultural Relations: Towards a Transatlantic Cultural Initiative?
Damien Helly spoke at the Webinar “Success and Challenges for the EU External Cultural Relations”, part of the Series “EU Cultural Policy: Beyond Masters and Museums” by the Center for European Studies at UF Jean Monnet Center of Excellence. Speakers considered the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage in conflict and crisis and its integration in peace-building initiatives, as well as the possible opportunities in the EU-US relations offered by the new US presidency and the multi-year EU budget programming.
10 May 2021
EU-US Cultural Relations: Towards a Transatlantic Cultural Initiative?
Damien Helly spoke at the Webinar “Success and Challenges for the EU External Cultural Relations”, part of the Series “EU Cultural Policy: Beyond Masters and Museums” by the Center for European Studies at UF Jean Monnet Center of Excellence. Speakers considered the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage in conflict and crisis and its integration in peace-building initiatives, as well as the possible opportunities in the EU-US relations offered by the new US presidency and the multi-year EU budget programming.
1 october 2020
Research report #2: The role of the European Union in the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage in conflict and post-conflict contexts in the Middle East region
Building on the EU’s experience in Iraq as a case-study, this report analyses the main components of a possible EU’s strategic approach to cultural heritage protection and enhancement as a tool for conflict prevention, peace building, dialogue and mediation, in the Middle East and beyond.
30 September 2020
cS mapping #1: classical music in China
In partnership with the Pavillon Rouge des Arts HK, culture Solutions published the first free and open sectoral mapping on classical music in China to enhance cultural cooperation between Europeans and Chinese cultural professionals. China’s classical music market is booming and previous analyses of EU-China cultural relations concluded that concrete direct existing cooperation initiatives can be a useful starting point to develop them further.