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European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Micallef at Creative FLIP Final Conference Brussels, 9 June 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends, We often talk about the future as if it were waiting for us around the corner. But with this performance, it is like we just watched the future being rehearsed. Dancers, technology and audiences - together on one stage. A performance that rai...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Speech by Commissioner Micallef at Creative FLIP Final Conference Brussels, 9 June 2026 Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends, We often talk about the future as if it were waiting for us around the corner. But with this performance, it is like we just watched the future being rehearsed. Dancers, technology and audiences - together on one stage. A performance that raises the same questions facing Europe's cultural and creative sectors every day. How do we use technology without losing our humanity ? How do we embrace innovation while protecting creativity ? How do we ensure that new tools expand cultural expression ? These are crucial questions. And they are precisely why I am with you today, to celebrate the work and outcomes of Creative FLIP. This project recognised early on that rapid technological change would require new skills, new partnerships and new approaches. Over the years, it has created spaces for experimentation, connected people, and focused on practical solutions. Such as with the Creatives Unite platform - a meeting place for thousands of creatives across Europe. And the Cross-Sectoral Pioneers programme , which helped make today's performance possible. I interpret these achievements as strong signals. That Europe's creative community is ready to evolve . To experiment . To collaborate . And to shape the future rather than react to it. That brings me to the two elements I want to focus on over the next few minutes: Direction . And delivery . On direction. Last year, we adopted the Culture Compass for Europe . In this period of rapid technological, environmental and geopolitical change, nobody can provide a detailed map of the future. But we can provide direction . A shared understanding of the values we want to fight for. And a shared commitment to the role that culture should play in our future. Europe's cultural and creative sectors are a powerhouse of innovation. They employ almost 8 million people and generate close to €200 billion in added value. Their contribution is cultural, social and economic. The Culture Compass recognises something that all of you in this room live every day: Culture is part of how Europe innovates . How Europe prospers . Culture is health and well-being . It is inclusion . How Europe understands itself – One performance, one artwork, one community at a time. So when public budgets are under strain, when some ask if we should continue to invest in culture, our answer should be firm. We need to double down on our commitment. And that is what we will do when we sign the Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture, Culture for Europe” soon. A declaration that is a promise. A commitment by the three institutions to support culture, together . A signal that culture is a priority . That artistic freedom is a guiding principle. That cultural diversity is a strength . That brings me to delivery. The signing of the declaration is not the end of a process. Nor is it the beginning of one. The work is already underway. The Culture Compass is already guiding our actions. The Declaration turns direction into commitment. And it creates a strong foundation for the next phase: implementation. A compass only matters if it helps people move forward. Good strategies matter. But people need to see the difference in their everyday lives. For an artist , that may mean being able to pay the rent. Or being acknowledged or recognised as such. For a young creator , it may mean access to new skills and opportunities. For a cultural organisation , it may mean finding the resources needed to innovate and grow. For audiences , it means access to diverse and vibrant cultural expression. This is the test we must apply to everything we do. Does it help culture thrive ? Does it empower creators? Does it strengthen the cultural ecosystem? My hope is that the answer to these three questions will be a yes. This is why we are developing an AI strategy for the cultural and creative sectors . So that we discuss licensing, compensation, and what creators are owed. To support human creativity. And safeguard our cultural and linguistic diversity. It is why we are preparing an EU Artists' Charter . Because talent deserves fair working conditions. And it is why we will publish a State of Culture Report , including a focus on artistic freedom. Ladies and gentlemen, Implementation requires more than policies. All of you who have implemented projects know it requires three core elements: Dialogue, or communication. Knowledge, or information. And investment, or support. First, dialogue. The people living something are the ones best placed to help shape it. That is why I wanted to establish a structured dialogue with stakeholders. So that we shape key actions of the Culture Compass together. Second, knowledge. Decisions are based on information. To make informed decisions., we need to understand emerging trends. Which is why we need a European Cultural Data Hub to support the State of Culture Report. And finally, investment and support. Every euro invested in culture pays back twice: today and tomorrow. And every creative idea begins with imagination . But imagination alone does not finance a project. So funding remains essential. The Commission wants to double the current funding for culture. And we are exploring new ways to support culture beyond traditional grants. So that these sectors too can access the resources they need to take risks . To develop new ideas. And bring ambitious projects to life. Creative FLIP has helped initiate those conversations. Through its work on access to finance. Through the resources made available on Creatives Unite. And through efforts to equip cultural and creative professionals with practical knowledge and new opportunities. I am pleased today's event will discuss innovative financing for the sectors. Because these kinds of contributions will remain relevant long after the project comes to an end. Ladies and gentlemen, Earlier today, we saw the future being rehearsed. That is what artists do. They explore possibilities before the rest of us can see them. They challenge assumptions. And they help society imagine what comes next. Over the past years, Creative FLIP has done something similar. By helping Europe's cultural and creative sectors experiment, learn, collaborate and prepare for the future. The Culture Compass gives us direction. The Joint Declaration strengthens our collective commitment. Now we turn ambition into action , and commitment into results. So that our sectors have the support they need to thrive in the years ahead. And that is a future worth building together. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1324
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