Culture 2007 Programme (2007-2013)

Period: 2007-2013

Budget: EUR 400 million

The general objective of Culture 2007 programme is to enhance the cultural area common to Europeans through the development of cultural cooperation between the creators, cultural players and cultural institutions of the countries taking part in the programme, with a view to encouraging the emergence of European citizenship.

Specifically, the programme aims to:

• Promote the transnational mobility of people working in the cultural sector

• Encourage the transnational circulation of works and cultural and artistic products

• Encourage intercultural dialogue

The objectives of the programme shall be pursued though the implementation of the strands below:

1) Support for cultural actions:

• Multi-annual cooperation projects : This support is intended to assist cooperation projects in their start up, structuring or geographical extension phase. Each cooperation project shall involve at least six partners from different countries. Community support may not exceed 50% of the project budget and may not be more than EUR 500 000 a year. This support shall be granted for a period of three to five years. Approximately 32% of the total budget allocated to the programme shall be devoted to this support.

• Cooperation measures : This support shall promote sectoral and cross-sectoral cooperation between European operators prioritised creativity and innovation. Community contribution under this support may not be less than 50 000 euro nor more than 200 000 euro per a year and may not exceed 50% of the project budget. Subsidy shall be granted for a maximum of 24 months. Approximately 29% of the total budget allocated to the programme shall be devoted to this support.

• Special actions : These actions shall contribute to intercultural and international dialogue, and also help to raise the profile of Community cultural action and increase the cultural influence of our continent. They must meet at least two of the three specific objectives. Financing for these actions will be granted following call for proposals and invitations to tenders. Community funding under this support nay not exceed 60% of the project budget. Approximately 16% of the total budget allocated to the programme shall be devoted to this support.

2) Support for European bodies active at European level in the field of culture

This support shall take the form of an operating grant to co-finance costs associated with a continuous work programme of an organization which chases a goal of general European interest in the field of culture.

Subsidy shall be made for these grants on the basis of annual call for proposals. Approximately 10% of the total budget allocated to the programme shall be devoted to this support.

3) Support for analyses and for the collection and dissemination of information in the field of cultural cooperation

Approximately 5% of the total budget allocated to the programme shall be devoted to this support.

• Support for cultural contact points: In order to get targeted and effective dissemination of practical information on the programme, it shall provide for support from cultural contact points. These bodies, acting at national level shall be set up by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States on a voluntary basis.

• Support for analyses in the field of cultural cooperation: It promotes the carrying out of studies and analyses in the field of cultural cooperation and policy development. The aim of this support shall be to increase the volume of information and data on cultural cooperation at European level, particularly with regard to the mobility of cultural players. Projects promoting collection and analysis statistics will be principally encouraged

• Support for collection and dissemination of information in the field of cultural cooperation: This support encourages the implementation of an Internet tool targeted at the needs of culture professionals in the filed of trans-European cultural cooperation.

In addition to EU Member States, the Culture 2007 programme is open to the participation of the following countries:

• EFTA countries that are members of the EEA (Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein)

• Candidate Countries benefiting from the Pre-Accession strategy for the accession to the Union

• The countries of the Western Balkans

It is also be open to cooperation with third countries, which have concluded association or cooperation agreements with the European Union.

More information