Tag / Policy analysis
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The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final took place with a bang: Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga” snatched the first place from Israel in an edition marred by boycotts over its participation. This article explores how the song contest 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 geopolitical tensions put in danger the reputation and even the future of the show.
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12 points go to… a vision of Europe (dis)united by music
The Eurovision 2026 Grand Final took place with a bang: Bulgaria’s “Bangaranga” snatched the first place from Israel in an edition marred by boycotts over its participation. This article explores how the song contest 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 geopolitical tensions put in danger the reputation and even the future of the show.
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Albania, the Flamingo Revolution, and the enduring aspiration of a sustainable heritage and future
This article explores the Flamingo Revolution as thousands of Albanians protest the government’s decision to hand over a vast stretch of their country’s most pristine coastline to a luxury resort project. It highlights the depth of public commitment to natural heritage and sustainable ways of life, and what that entails in the context of European Union enlargement and its attractiveness.
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Trump 2.0: How Europe must respond to the US Soft Power suicide
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.
This article provides a summary of cS Brief #16 on Trump 2.0 and EU Soft Power. -
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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 US and EU soft power. In the context of negotiations of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, this cS brief makes recommendations for the upcoming EU international cultural relations (ICR) strategy, with view of reconsidering and strengthening its own cultural and strategic positioning globally, particularly in the digital tech and AI sectors.
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Research report #3: Rethinking Africa-Europe cultural relations: Toward an AU–EU cultural cooperation fit for the future
The report examines cultural relations between Africa and Europe, focusing on EU–AU cooperation and its scope. It offers analysis based on literature review and interviews, highlighting how collaboration with the cultural and creative sectors is perceived by professionals, academics, and experts. These insights reflect evolving cultural policies and creative industries across both regions.
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Cultural relations under strain: Montenegro, Turkey and the EU: the resurgence of memory
This article examines the key factors shaping Turkish–Montenegrin cultural relations. As Montenegro advances along its EU accession path and Turkey has maintained a longstanding cultural presence, its cultural relations have increasingly intersected with questions of mobility, identity, and geopolitical alignment.
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7 years of culture Solutions’ analyses echoed in the Culture Compass
The Culture Compass for Europe, released last week by the European Commission, is a significant and welcomed milestone for EU international cultural relations. Over recent years, culture Solutions has analysed the growing importance of ICR for the EU’s external partnerships, as well as the need to address internal and external cultural challenges in a coordinated manner. Seeing these core arguments now embedded in the Culture Compass represents both a success and a meaningful step forward. In this article you will find the 10 key strategic directions mentioned in the Compass that reflect research produced by culture Solutions.
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Culture in the next MFF: What space for external cultural action in the next Global Europe financial instrument?
Building on the high-level roundtable “Culture in the Next EU Budget”, organised by the European Parliament, this second article highlights areas of external cultural action where the EU could benefit from a stronger and more coordinated presence.
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Culture in the next MFF: Internal and external cultural policies both at threat?
On 23 September 2025, the high-level roundtable “Culture in the Next EU Budget”, organised by the European Parliament as part of its long-term budget campaign “Invest in what matters.” In this first blog blog of the series, we analyse the prospects for the internal and external cultural policies in the 2028-2035 MFF.
