Nicosia: The opportunity to showcase Cypriot artists, musicians, and choreographers internationally was the greatest benefit of the cultural programme organised during Cyprus' Presidency of the Council of the EU, Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou said on Tuesday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, during a press conference in Nicosia where she outlined the Deputy Ministry's work during the six-month Presidency, Kassianidou stated that Cyprus had achieved tangible results both in shaping European cultural policy and in promoting its cultural heritage and contemporary artistic production abroad. She identified negotiations on AgoraEU, the EU's proposed funding programme for culture, media, and civil society for 2028-2034, as one of the most important files handled by the Cyprus Presidency.
The Council adopted a partial general approach on the draft regulation, while financial and horizontal provisions remain under discussion as part of negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The European Commission has proposed a budget of £8.6 billion for AgoraEU, while the European Parliament has called for £10.72 billion. The final amount will be determined once the legislative process and negotiations on the EU's next long-term budget are completed.
Kassianidou conveyed optimism that AgoraEU would succeed and expand Creative Europe. The Deputy Ministry intends to strengthen advisory support for cultural organisations and artists seeking EU funding, including through the establishment and financing of offices providing guidance on applications. She noted the aim was to increase applications from Cyprus and secure additional resources to complement the Deputy Ministry's budget.
She also highlighted the joint declaration 'Europe for Culture - Culture for Europe', signed in Brussels by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to Kassianidou, the declaration commits the three EU institutions to protecting, promoting, and supporting culture while establishing a strategic framework for integrating the cultural dimension across EU policymaking.
Turning to the Presidency's cultural programme, Kassianidou highlighted that Cyprus presented its cultural heritage and contemporary creative output through various events, including 18 concerts and musical performances, 18 visual arts and archaeological exhibitions, seven dance performances, and nine theatre, poetry, and film events across 30 countries, involving more than 500 artists. Events and exhibitions were hosted at prestigious venues such as the Louvre Museum, the National Library of France, Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, and the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, as well as in Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Brussels, and Athens.
Kassianidou expressed hope that this international exposure would lead to future invitations and new collaborations for Cypriot artists, emphasizing that spreading their wings to present their work globally was the greatest gain from the Presidency.