A New Platform for Cultural Diplomacy

In the last months, the European Union promoted a series of new programs to enhance its engagement with third countries and their citizens. Among these new instruments, we find a new Cultural Diplomacy Platform.

As said by Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign affairs and Security Policy/Vice- President of the European Commission, “Cultural diplomacy is an integral part of our common foreign policy and thus forms an essential part of how Europe engages with partners around the world”. It is designed to strengthen the ability of the EU to engage meaningfully with audiences and stakeholders in third countries, through cultural diplomacy activities, by supporting and advising EU institutions, including the EU Delegations across the globe. Additionally, it has the purpose of strengthening the ability of the EU to engage meaningfully with audiences and stakeholders in third countries, through cultural diplomacy activities, by supporting and advising EU institutions, including the EU Delegations across the globe, and by setting up a global cultural leadership programme.

 The main purpose of this new Platform though, is to promote and facilitate durable cultural exchanges, in particular implementing people-to-people activities, co-creation processes between Europeans and citizens from other countries all over the world. Besides, the Platform will serve as a tool to enhance widespread understanding and visibility of the Union and its role on the world scene. The Cultural Diplomacy Platform has been officially launched with the signature of the agreement between the European Commission and the Consortium leader, the Goethe-Institute, on 26th January 2016. This 2-year project is financed with a EUR 939.800 service contract under the Public Diplomacy component of the 2015 Annual Action Programme of the Partnership Instrument.