Cultural relations & diplomacy

21 June 2026

12 points go to… a vision of Europe (dis)united by music

This article explores how Eurovision has succeeded in its mission to unite through music by bringing together people from all over the world and fostering the soft power of both EU and non-EU countries, but how geopolitical tensions put in danger the reputation and even the future of the show, as highlighted by the 2026’s Grand Final when Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga” snatched the first place from Israel in an edition marred by boycotts over its participation.

19 November 2025

7 years of culture Solutions’ analyses echoed in the Culture Compass

In this article we outline 10 key strategic directions mentioned in The Culture Compass for Europe, released in November 2025 by the European Commission —a significant and welcomed milestone for EU international cultural relations (ICR).

16 November 2025

Culture in the next MFF: What space for external cultural action in the next Global Europe financial instrument?

Building on an encouraging discussion on “Culture in the Next EU Budget” held at the European Parliament on 23 September (blog post #1), this article highlights areas of cultural action where the EU could benefit from a stronger and more coordinated presence. Such an approach would help the EU and its Member States assert themselves among major global powers (the US, China, India) and remain a favoured partner for their democratic allies (Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, South Africa).

September-October 2025

EU’s International Cultural Relations: Reality Check

culture Solutions hosted the webinar EU’s International Cultural Relations: Reality Check, welcoming Mafalda Dâmaso, Avril Joffe, Matina Magkou, Alessandro Lamonica, and Andrew Murray.

The webinar offered a timely opportunity to assess where the EU currently stands in international cultural relations (ICR), the gaps that persist between ambition and implementation, and how culture can act as a strategic tool in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape. It also provided a necessary reflection on the nine years since the 2016 Joint Communication towards an EU ICR. 

In the podcast episode Composing trust #5: Community of Practice talks – the EU as a Global Cultural Power, we selected key moments from the webinar where panellists and the audience explored several critical themes.

19 December 2024

cS internal dialogue #1: Democracy, elections and international cultural relations after 2024

This blog post reflects a collective discussion among culture Solutions’ members on the topics of democracy, elections, and International Cultural Relations (ICR) in 2024, summarising key ideas from our conversation on 23 October. 

The article contributes to current discussions and reflections on International Cultural Relations, by examining how current political trends in the EU and the new global geopolitical context are impacting culture, and whether they can compromise its potential for promoting dialogue, understanding and democracy.

11 November 2024

What next for EU International Cultural Relations: Questions for the Commissioners-designate for Culture, International Partnerships and Foreign Affairs 

Following the European elections in June 2024, in the context of the European Parliament confirmation hearings of the 26 Commissioners-designate, culture Solutions poses key questions to the three Commissioners-designate directly related to International Cultural Relations: Glenn Micallef, Jozef Síkela and Kaja Kallas, as well as to other EU services.

26 May 2024

Composing trust #4: Cultural relations – a fairer way to engage between continents

In this podcast episode we take a look at the relationship between diverse world regions and the dynamics that have emerged in recent years between and within the North and the South, the East and the West, providing a series of recommendations based on contributors’ professional practices, linked to cherishing and preserving local cultural expressions, promoting intercultural exchanges and mainstreaming cultural policies.

14 April 2024

Composing trust #3: Cultural relations perspectives beyond the European Union

This podcast episode gives voice to experts in various geographical settings with a view to contributing to the recognition of the myriad of understandings, reasonings, and realities that coexist within the realm of International Cultural Relations, questioning the Western perspective that conditions the design and interpretation of ICR theory and practices.

13 February 2024

EU Cultural Diplomacy as Defence 

Damien Helly, chair and co-founder of culture Solutions, took part in the European Parliament CULT Committee’s exchange of views with experts (cS member Mafalda Damaso), the EEAS, and the European Commission on recent developments and future perspectives in EU Cultural Diplomacy and International Cultural Relations. The discussion built on the 2022 EP resolution, for which the CULT Committee had also consulted us, and looked beyond the European elections in May 2024. Check the recording of the recording (he starts talking at 10:10) and the presentation.

June-July 2023

Policy directions in EU international cultural relations, towards 2024 

On 27 June 2023, culture Solutions organised a select roundtable in collaboration with MEP Mrs Salima Yenbou, gathering more than 50 key Brussels-based policy-makers, networks’ representatives and professionals from the cultural field, in a multi-stakeholder space for dialogue on the place of cultural action in the EU external policies agenda. The event report #5 presents the content of the debates, focusing on three themes: taking stock, Ukraine and geopolitics, and the 2024 agenda.

January 2023 – May 2024

Composing trust podcast series

In the introductory episode presenting culture Solutions’ new podcast programme entitled Composing trust, we frame the discussions of the podcast programme, introduce the organisation and its objectives, and share their sources of inspiration. The third podcast episode gives voice to experts in various geographical settings, seeking recognition of the myriad of understandings, reasonings, and realities that coexist within the realm of International Cultural Relations.

22 December 2022

Making the difference: culture Solutions’ recommendations reflected in the 14 December 2022 European Parliament’s Resolution

This blog post looks at the European Parliament’s December 2022 resolution on the implementation of the New Agenda for Culture (2023-2026) and the EU strategy for international cultural relations, and connects its main recommendations to culture Solutions’ past contributions.

6 September 2022

Five take-aways for EU institutions and Mondiacult: Voices of Culture Global Dialogue on International Cultural Relations 

Nicole McNeilly and Gabrielle Bernoville reflect in this article on the key themes discussed in the final report published by the invited high-level professionals. They set out their perspectives on possible next steps, emphasising the role of the EU entities in its close partnership with CSOs and the global cultural sector – a topic made even more important in the run-up to Mondiacult.

19 July 2022

1 billion for EU international cultural relations by 2027 

This blog post is the written version of the speech given by Damien Helly at the European Parliament’s public hearing on EU international cultural relations in Brussels on 13 July 2022. It summarises culture Solutions’ analyses on the implementation of the EU cultural relations policy framework and suggests a set of priorities for the EU Council Work Plan on Culture 2022-2025.

22 January 2022

#FrenchPresidency – Balancing Paris Cultural Geopolitics and EU international cultural relations 

This blog by Pablo Barrios and Gabrielle Bernoville, with Damien Helly, decodes the ins-and-outs of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU. The external cultural agenda of Paris’ presidency is a balancing act between its New Roadmap to influence and revisited EU International Cultural Relations.

16 October 2021

Practices of EU international cultural relations: A 3P contribution

Damien Helly took part in the CIRCEA Autumn School 2021, the annual gathering of young professionals in international cultural relations in Siena. His presentation focused on the topic of 3P: people, paradigms and platforms.

7 September 2021

What if we used culture to prevent conflicts? 

Damien Helly was invited as a guest speaker in the European Democracy Lab Podcast. The episode sought to answer the question: if the promotion of cultural diversity can foster mutual understanding, can the European Union promote culture as a tool to actually prevent conflicts?

1 July 2021

#TeamEurope: A community of practice on culture for EU Delegations

DG INTPA’s Culture Seminars, delivered by culture Solutions, have highlighted the need for a Community of Practice. Read more about how to embed culture across EU’s external actions in this blog post.

20 March 2021

European Spaces of Culture: A blueprint for a Cultural Team Europe 

The EUNIC-led “European Spaces of Culture” have the potential to scale up the six pilot project into a Cultural Team Europe approach. Find out how in this article.

14-16 December 2020

Team Europe Worldwide 

After the adoption of the new multiannual budget, EU Delegations are busy with the programming of external action and international cooperation funds for the next seven years. For 5 tips on country-based cultural programming to blow the EU Cultural Breeze see the blog by Damien Helly. Next, we offer you a list of 10 priorities for regional and global cultural programming in the article by Damien Helly.

30 April 2020

Composing Trust 2019/2020 research report

Our Composing Trust 2019/2020 research report aims to become a reference knowledge resource on EU international cultural relations for the new 2019 European Parliament and Commission as well as for all those who engage with institutions on this agenda. It is divided into 8 thematic chapters, from societal change to the relation between culture and climate, mapping the current framework of the EU’s international cultural relations and what contributed to it.