Some Considerations of the EU’s International Cultural Strategy

Abstract

It has been more than 30 years since the Treaty of Maastricht officially introduced cultural policy in 1992. Cultural policy has been restructured in accordance with the EU’s Multi-annual Financial Framework. Sometimes the policy had to change its official programmes and its policy orientation had to change as well, accordingly. Cultural policy in earlier times implemented various cultural programmes in which different foci were given in providing financial support. DIfferent programmes supported either cultural heritage preservation, performing art or literary translation depending on their respective objectives of the programmes. From the year 2000 onwards, however, the existing programmes were converged into a single programme as the EU emphasised the effectiveness of operating different programmes in a single instrument. From 2014, the focal point of the cultural policy is cultural and creative sectors. The ‘Creative Europe’ programme the EU introduced for the sake of establishing creative Europe, integrated audiovisual policy (which had existed separately from cultural policy) into the programme aiming at strengthening cultural and creative sectors in the digital era. In addition, the EU proclaimed that it will actively make use of culture in its external relations in its communication on ‘International Cultural Relations’. While expanding various types of ‘networks’ through Creative Europe at a global level, the EU makes attempt to establish ‘European Spaces of Culture’ worldwide in the end. By doing so, the EU pursues enhancing its position as a global actor in this field.