How to watch the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)

Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Panel 1: Digital safeguards, prominence and platform power

Nela Riehl and 9 others

The first panel examines EMFA’s digital aspects (Articles 18, 20, 24), AVMSD prominence rules and regulatory gaps, with experts, broadcasters and regulators outlining risks from platforms, algorithms and AI, followed by a broad political debate on disinformation, media independence, visibility, literacy and the use of EMFA/DSA tools, concluding with wrap-up messages on direct rights, prominence and funding instruments like AgoraEU.

In this chapter

1. Panel 1 introduction: digital aspects and prominenceNela Riehl
2. Expert Ledger: current EU framework and regulatory gapsNela Riehl
3. Broadcasters (MFE): prominence on connected devices and AINela Riehl

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Opening: Commission framing of EMFA digital tools

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The chair opens the second EMFA implementation day and the Commission sets out the rationale and key digital provisions of EMFA, explaining Articles 18, 20 and 24 and their interaction with AVMSD and future prominence reforms to protect trustworthy media online.

In this chapter

1. Opening of second EMFA implementation dayNela Riehl
2. Commission: digital disruption and EMFA rationale
3. Commission: Article 18 on platform moderation

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Panel 2: gender equality, safety of women journalists and policy responses

Nela Riehl and 1 other

In the context of Gender Equality Week, the second panel addresses gendered threats and online/offline violence against women journalists, AI‑driven and deepfake‑enabled discrimination in newsrooms, national measures against cyberviolence, and the need to embed women’s safety and equality in EU media‑freedom and digital policies.

In this chapter

1. Panel 2: media framework, gender equality and journalist safetyNela Riehl
2. Gender panel Q&A and wrap-upCinzia Pellegrino

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Panel 1: EMFA impact, comparative study and country experiences

Nela Riehl and 3 others

Panel 1 examines whether EMFA improves the news environment through testimony on journalist killings and impunity, presentation of a comparative implementation study, extensive national interventions on public media, SLAPPs, ownership, state advertising and small markets, and concludes on EMFA’s constitutional role and the need to monitor justice systems.

In this chapter

1. Panel 1 launch and Daphne Caruana Galizia’s legacyNela Riehl
2. EMFA implementation study: key comparative findings
3. Interparliamentary Q&A II: country experiences and EMFA gapsNela Riehl
4. Closing of Panel 1: EMFA as constitutional safeguard and justice monitoringNela Riehl

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Interparliamentary Q&A I: EMFA national challenges and enforcement

Nela Riehl and 9 others

MEPs and national MPs present country-specific concerns on politicised public media, weak regulators and lack of pluralism, while the panel explains the EU’s enforcement strategy, the hybrid internal-market and rule‑of‑law nature of EMFA, and the role of parliaments and media actors in triggering EMFA-based remedies.

In this chapter

1. Interparliamentary Q&A I: national EMFA challengesNela Riehl
2. Panel responses: enforcement strategy and role of parliamentsSabine Verheyen

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Commission and regulators on EMFA implementation

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The Commission and the European Media Board outline the state of EMFA implementation, enforcement tools and legal bases, links with AVMSD reform and platform regulation, and highlight gaps in national legal powers, resources and coordination needed for effective media oversight.

In this chapter

1. Commission: state of EMFA implementation and AVMSD reviewNela Riehl
2. European Media Board: regulatory tools and capacityNela Riehl

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Opening and political framing of EMFA

Nela Riehl and 1 other

The Chair and Sabine Verheyen open the interparliamentary meeting, set the objectives, and frame EMFA as a landmark tool linked to AgoraEU, the DSA and the forthcoming AVMSD review to address media concentration, platform power and the sustainability of independent journalism.

In this chapter

1. Opening of CULT ICM and objectivesNela Riehl
2. Verheyen: EMFA priorities and future media policySabine Verheyen

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Youth engagement, Charlemagne Youth Prize and online safety policy

Nela Riehl and 3 others

Laureates of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize present democracy, anti‑disinformation and EU–China youth initiatives and discuss with MEPs how to scale and feed youth input into law‑making, followed by Irish Youth Forum representatives outlining young people’s views on online opportunities and harms and debating with MEPs age limits, safety‑by‑design, education, platform obligations and embedding structured youth consultation into EU digital policy and the EU Kids Act.

In this chapter

1. European Charlemagne Youth Prize: winning projects and parliamentary follow‑upNela Riehl
2. Irish Youth Forum on Online Safety: findings and EU policy dialogueNela Riehl

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

European Heritage List reform: proposal and institutional debate

Nela Riehl and 7 others

After closing the ECoC item, the Chair and Commission present the reform of the European Heritage Label into the European Heritage List, addressing procedural shortcomings, modest grants, stronger ‘European significance’ and inclusion of Creative Europe partners, with MEPs questioning sustainability criteria, funding predictability, symbolic impact of renaming and governance for non‑EU countries, and the Commission defending the ‘List’ terminology, competitive model, small grants focus and EU‑values‑based, youth‑oriented approach.

In this chapter

1. From ECoC to European Heritage Label reformNela Riehl
2. MEP scrutiny of European Heritage List scope and supportNela Riehl
3. Commission clarifications on EHL naming, grants, competition and eligibility

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

ECoC reform: MEP scrutiny, Commission replies and implementation lessons

Hannes Heide and 7 others

Rapporteur and MEPs broadly welcome the ECoC reform while challenging funding levels, visibility, evaluation, panel transparency, legacy obligations, title withdrawal and opening to third countries, followed by detailed Commission clarifications on prize increases, networks, EU‑values‑based eligibility and expert roles, and concluding with feedback from the Oulu 2026 delegation visit on practical, legacy‑oriented implementation without major new infrastructure.

In this chapter

1. Rapporteur and MEPs: financing, criteria, legacy and third countries in ECoCHannes Heide
2. Commission replies on ECoC funding, networks and third‑country participationNela Riehl
3. Delegation visit to Oulu 2026: ECoC implementation lessonsNela Riehl

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Implementation of European Media Freedom Act – CULT ICM

Opening of meeting and ECoC 2034–2047 proposal

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The Chair opens the CULT meeting, confirms the agenda and coordinators’ decisions, and introduces the Commission’s proposal for the post‑2033 European Capitals of Culture framework, outlining objectives, core features to be maintained and key innovations in criteria, funding structure and eligibility, including third‑country and cross‑border participation and withdrawal powers.

In this chapter

1. Opening, agenda and launch of ECoC itemNela Riehl
2. Commission proposal on post‑2033 European Capitals of CultureNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education – Extraordinary Meeting

Teacher shortages Q&A: National situations, EU leverage and retention

Giusi Princi and 5 others

MEPs from several groups question Sorensen on precarious employment, territorial and housing inequalities, contradictions in national data, teachers’ social status, migration and minority-language schooling, and he replies on the EU’s supporting role, indicator limitations, career models, mentoring, and targeted incentives for hard-to-staff areas.

In this chapter

1. Q&A round I: Italian precariousness and EU leverageGiusi Princi
2. Q&A round II: Status of teachers and EU curricula initiativesHristo Petrov
3. Q&A round III: Behaviour, migration, minorities and retentionZsuzsanna Borvendég

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Committee on Culture and Education – Extraordinary Meeting

EU teacher shortages study: Scope, findings and recommendations

Nela Riehl and 1 other

The Chair introduces the requested study on teacher shortages, Professor Sorensen presents EU-wide mapping, drivers of teacher-job attractiveness and comparative case studies, and then details national and EU-level policy recommendations on salaries, working conditions, teacher education, governance and data, as well as use of EU instruments.

In this chapter

1. Introduction of study on teacher shortage crisis in the EUNela Riehl
2. Sorensen: Mapping EU teacher shortages and drivers of attractivenessTore Sorensen
3. Sorensen: National and EU-level policy recommendationsTore Sorensen

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Committee on Culture and Education – Extraordinary Meeting

Erasmus+ 2028–2034 programme: Mandate and adoption

Laurence Farreng and 2 others

The Chair introduces the Erasmus+ 2028–2034 report as a flagship file, the rapporteur outlines the compromise package and budgetary stakes in coordination with BUDG and the Commission, and the committee votes to adopt the compromise amendments and overall report.

In this chapter

1. Procedural adjustment and introduction of Erasmus+ 2028–2034 reportLaurence Farreng
2. Zdrojewski: Erasmus+ 2028–2034 compromises and budget stakesBogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski
3. Vote: Erasmus+ 2028–2034 report and compromise packageNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education – Extraordinary Meeting

Opening and 2027 EU budget opinion (Erasmus+, culture)

Nela Riehl and 1 other

The Chair opens the CULT meeting, organises substitutions and voting arrangements, and the rapporteur presents the CULT opinion on the 2027 EU budget lines for Erasmus+, Creative Europe and the European Solidarity Corps before the committee votes on the amendments and final text.

In this chapter

1. Opening, quorum and voting arrangementsNela Riehl
2. Sousa Silva: 2027 EU budget lines for Erasmus+ and cultureHélder Sousa Silva
3. Vote: Opinion on 2027 EU general budget (Erasmus+, Creative Europe)Nela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

European Schools: governance, funding and future of the system

Nela Riehl and 5 others

The annual exchange on European Schools reviews system performance, overpopulation, teacher shortages, pay gaps, budget caps and IT risks, alongside Council Presidency priorities and detailed concerns from teachers, parents, students and accredited schools about resources, inclusion and governance. Parliament’s standing rapporteur and MEPs call for structural reforms, an ombudsperson, protection of small language sections and implementation of the 2023 resolution, while the Commission and Secretary‑General respond on funding constraints, cost‑sharing rules, language sections and follow‑up measures before closing the exchange and linking to a focused debate on inclusion.

In this chapter

1. Transition to annual exchange on European SchoolsNela Riehl
2. Secretary‑General Beckmann: system overview, performance and main risksNela Riehl
3. Lithuanian Presidency priorities for European SchoolsNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Expert hearing: AI in cultural and creative sectors

Nela Riehl and 4 others

Following the political debate, the committee holds an expert briefing on AI in audiovisual, publishing and music streaming, examining opportunities, labour impacts, copyright and data use, discrimination risks, information integrity and the evolving EU regulatory framework. MEPs then question the expert on labelling of AI content, text‑and‑data‑mining rules, contracts and training needs, and the effects of AI on youth, creativity and skills.

In this chapter

1. Transition to expert briefing on AI in CCSNela Riehl
2. Expert briefing: AI in audiovisual, publishing and music streamingNela Riehl
3. Q&A with expert: labelling, youth literacy, TDM, contractsViktor Weisz

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

CULT committee: AI report on cultural sectors

Nela Riehl and 7 others

The committee opens its meeting, introduces the own‑initiative report on culture and creative sectors in the age of AI, and hears the rapporteur and political groups set out priorities on human‑centred creativity, copyright/acquis interaction, fair remuneration, transparency, and social and linguistic diversity. A catch‑the‑eye round and the Commission outline youth‑related concerns, the forthcoming AI strategy for cultural and creative sectors, and possible adjustments to the EU copyright framework in response to generative AI.

In this chapter

1. Opening of CULT meeting and AI agendaNela Riehl
2. Rapporteur Sousa Silva: goals of AI and culture reportHélder Sousa Silva
3. Political groups: positions on AI and cultural sectorsHannes Heide
4. Catch‑the‑eye and Commission: AI strategy and copyright reviewHélder Sousa Silva

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Inclusion, indicators and Erasmus+ programme architecture

Antonín Staněk and 2 others

The study author, MEPs and Commission debate how to redesign grants and organisational support for inclusion, the status of the European Solidarity Corps, concrete educational and mobility indicators, and the merits and risks of the Commission’s simplified, more integrated budgetary architecture.

In this chapter

1. Study author: inclusion, Solidarity Corps and programme design
2. MEPs: Erasmus+ core focus and social inequality risksAntonín Staněk
3. Study author and Commission: indicators, inclusion and budgetary architectureNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Erasmus+ post‑2027 study: introduction and political reactions

Nela Riehl and 4 others

The Chair opens the Erasmus+ post‑2027 item, introduces the commissioned study and speaking order, followed by the rapporteur and shadows setting out their positions on the programme’s future architecture, budget level, earmarking, and parliamentary oversight demands.

In this chapter

1. Chair: introduction of Erasmus+ post‑2027 studyNela Riehl
2. Rapporteur and shadows: positions on Erasmus+ architecture and budgetNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Tromsø European Youth Capital delegation: political takeaways

Nela Riehl and 3 others

The chair and rapporteurs report back on the CULT mission to Tromsø as European Youth Capital, outlining exchanges with youth, local and Sámi stakeholders and drawing lessons for EU youth policy, democratic resilience and Arctic-related challenges.

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

EU Youth Strategy implementation, 2027 CULT budget and skills opinion

Sabrina Repp and 2 others

MEPs adopt the report on implementing the EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027, approve CULT amendments and the negotiation mandate for the 2027 budget lines (Erasmus+, Creative Europe, ESC), and endorse the resolution on the European School Alliances pilot and the CULT opinion on the EMPL skills initiative and VET strategy.

In this chapter

1. EU Youth Strategy implementation and 2027 CULT budget linesSabrina Repp
2. Pilot project on European School Alliances and CULT opinion on skills initiativeNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Opening of CULT meeting and vote on social media report

Nela Riehl and 1 other

The committee chair opens the CULT meeting, sets out procedural and voting arrangements, and leads the voting sequence on the Ruotolo report on the impact of social media and the online environment on young people, resulting in its adoption as amended.

In this chapter

1. Opening of CULT meeting and social media report introductionNela Riehl
2. CULT voting on social media and youth protection reportNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting ICM

Panel 2 launch: Erasmus+ and ESC architecture

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The second panel opens with Zdrojewski setting out Parliament’s proposal to significantly increase the Erasmus+ budget, merge it with the ESC and organise it into three sectors with indicative shares. Rapporteur Šušković‑Glavaš and the Cypriot Council Presidency present the strategic role and funding needs of the ESC and the Council’s partial general approach, including anchoring in the European Education Area, inclusion, visibility for youth and sport, and third‑country association.

In this chapter

1. Panel 2 launch: Erasmus+ and ESC in next MFFNela Riehl
2. European Solidarity Corps and Council view on Erasmus+Nela Riehl

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