Cultural diplomacy

Alongside science diplomacy, the European Union also considers cultural diplomacy to be an important instrument of its external relations. Culture contributes to mutual understanding, trust and sustainable international partnerships and thereby strengthens Europe’s position in the world.

With the Joint Communication Towards an EU Strategy for International Cultural Relations (2016) ^[1] he European Commission laid the foundations for a common European approach to international cultural relations. This approach was further developed through the Council Conclusions on Culture in the European Union's External Relations (2017) ^[2] and the EU Strategic Approach to International Cultural Relations and a Framework for Action (2019) ^[3]. These documents emphasise that cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue not only strengthen cohesion within Europe but also contribute to constructive international relations based on mutual respect, trust and shared values.

There is broad consensus, both within the research community and among policymakers, regarding the societal value of culture and heritage. In addition to their contribution to identity, social cohesion, well-being and societal resilience, culture and heritage also play an important role in international cooperation. They create opportunities for mutual learning, intercultural dialogue, knowledge exchange and the development of sustainable relationships of trust between countries and societies.

At the same time, there is an important interaction between culture, heritage and science. The field of heritage science brings together scientific expertise and heritage conservation and contributes to the preservation, interpretation and sustainable management of cultural and natural heritage. This is particularly relevant in the context of global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, digitalisation and the growing vulnerability of heritage to natural disasters and other threats. Scientific cooperation relating to heritage can therefore contribute not only to knowledge development and heritage protection but also create new opportunities for international dialogue and cooperation.

The European Union emphasises the complementarity between European action and the cultural diplomacy of its Member States. The interaction between culture, heritage, science and international cooperation therefore offers new opportunities for an integrated approach to cultural and scientific diplomacy ^{[4] [5]}.

The European Union considers cultural diplomacy to be an important component of its external action and emphasises the complementarity between European policies and the cultural diplomacy of the Member States. Within the European approach, culture constitutes an important thematic focus for international cooperation, alongside other strategic fields such as science, space and technology. The interaction between culture, heritage, science and international cooperation can contribute to mutual understanding, knowledge exchange and sustainable international partnerships.

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