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

Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

MEP Q&A, Council and Commission on film policy

Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski and 2 others

MEPs question experts on hubs, multilingualism, fiscal incentives and artistic freedom, followed by the Cyprus Council Presidency outlining priorities on Culture Compass, Agora EU and AVMSD, and the Commission presenting evaluation data on Creative Europe/MEDIA, co‑productions and support for low-capacity countries, framing future EU audiovisual policy choices.

In this chapter

1. MEP questions and expert responses on hubs, tax, multilingualism and artistic freedomBogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski
2. Cyprus Council Presidency: Culture Compass, Agora EU and AVMSDNela Riehl
3. Commission feedback on MEDIA, co-productions and low-capacity countries

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Expert evidence on European film markets and financing

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

Invited experts from the European Audiovisual Observatory, Aarhus University and VUB present data on Europe’s fragmented film ecosystem, the dominant role of public funding for production, challenges in small and low‑capacity markets, and structural pressures from streamers, cinemas’ fragility and AI, while outlining possible EU‑level regulatory and funding responses.

In this chapter

1. Observatory: structure of European film production and financingNela Riehl
2. Small markets and low‑capacity countries under Creative EuropeNela Riehl
3. Future of film financing: streamers, cinemas and AINela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Erasmus+ political messages and shift to film workshop

Nela Riehl and 3 others

MEPs underline ambitions for broader Erasmus+ reach, civic and digital education, and AI regulation in culture, before the Chair formally opens the “From script to screen” workshop and sets out its focus on EU film production, financing, cross‑border circulation and technological change.

In this chapter

1. Catch‑the‑eye on Erasmus+ reach, democracy, phones and AI in cultureNela Riehl
2. Film workshop opening: EU film financing landscapeNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Erasmus+ MFF negotiations: budget, inclusion and youth

Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski and 4 others

Coordinators from main groups question the Commission on Erasmus+ budget levels, UK association, inclusion tools, youth and sport earmarking, traineeships and demographic policies, with the Vice‑President responding on funding envelopes, ESF+ top‑ups, rule‑of‑law conditionalities, simplification for small organisations, youth employment schemes and the legal basis of EU action in education.

In this chapter

1. Coordinators round 1: Erasmus+ budget, UK and sportsBogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski
2. Commission replies: Erasmus+ funding, UK ticket and STEM scholarshipsRoxana Mînzatu
3. Coordinators round 2: inclusion, youth organisations and traineeshipsErik Marquardt
4. Commission replies: Serbia, Hungary, inclusion and youth employment toolsRoxana Mînzatu

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Opening of CULT meeting and Commission statements

Nela Riehl and 1 other

Chair RIEHL opens the CULT meeting and sets the agenda before Commission Vice‑President Oksana presents priorities for Erasmus+, education and skills in the next MFF, outlines the Union of Skills and forthcoming education package, and details the new EU intergenerational fairness strategy and youth policy framework.

In this chapter

1. Committee opening and agenda adoptionNela Riehl
2. Chair: priorities for Erasmus+, MFF and youth policyNela Riehl
3. Commission: next MFF, Erasmus+ budget and inclusivenessRoxana Mînzatu

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Rapporteur and Commission: reinforced Youth Guarantee

Hristo Petrov Renew

The rapporteur presents the CULT opinion on the reinforced Youth Guarantee and the Commission explains implementation tools, monitoring mechanisms and the role of non‑formal learning, with emphasis on education‑to‑work transitions, soft skills and youth work recognition.

In this chapter

1. Rapporteur Petrov: presentation of CULT opinion on reinforced Youth GuaranteeHristo Petrov
2. Commission and rapporteur: implementation tools and role of non‑formal learningHristo Petrov

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

MEP–expert exchanges and institutional follow‑up on AI

Political groups question experts on teacher authority, AI limits, child development and evidence standards, followed by an integrated expert synthesis and EU institutional statements from the Commission and Council Presidency that outline emerging policy lines and conclude the AI workshop.

In this chapter

1. First political Q&A: teacher role, trust and AI limits
2. From expert synthesis to political follow‑up on AI in education
3. EU institutional positions and closure of AI workshop

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

CULT workshop opening and expert inputs on AI in education

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The Chair launches the CULT workshop on AI in classrooms and three academic experts set out core ethical, pedagogical and cognitive frameworks, highlighting evidence gaps, governance needs and regulatory safeguards relevant to EU policy instruments.

In this chapter

1. Opening of CULT workshop on AI in classroomsNela Riehl
2. Holmes: ethical foundations, evidence gaps and governance
3. Carisi: pedagogy, education goals and EU policy frameworkNela Riehl
4. Gunther: cognitive development risks and regulatory safeguardsNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Media literacy and digital learning: ESF, Commission input and next steps

Nela Riehl and 1 other

Closing part of the agenda item on media literacy and digital learning: an MEP links the strategy to reinforcing the ESF, the Commission (DG CONNECT and DG EAC) detail policy priorities on non‑formal media literacy, AI literacy and digital education scope, and the rapporteur and Chair conclude with final remarks and the amendment deadline.

In this chapter

1. MEP: Link between ESF and media literacy strategy
2. Commission (DG CONNECT): Non-formal media literacy and Agora fundingNela Riehl
3. Commission (DG EAC): Digital education scope, AI literacy and platforms
4. Rapporteur closing remarks and amendment deadlineNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Draft EU media literacy strategy: Presentation and political reactions

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The Chair opens the agenda item on the draft EU strategy for media literacy and digital learning, with the rapporteur outlining a prevention‑oriented, citizen‑centred approach and shadow rapporteurs setting out group positions on integrating media and digital literacy into education, defending democracy, and clarifying the responsibilities and financing role of platforms while respecting national competences in education.

In this chapter

1. New agenda item: Draft strategy on media literacy and digital learningNela Riehl
2. Shadows’ positions: Education, democracy and responsibility of platformsNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

European Social Fund regulation: CULT opinion and political lines

Nela Riehl and 1 other

Committee examination of the ESF regulation in National and Regional Partnership Plans, with the rapporteur’s call for earmarking for youth, education, culture and sport, followed by group positions on flexibility versus binding quotas and a closing exchange with the Commission on NRPPs, social investment shares and ESF’s role for skills and inclusion.

In this chapter

1. New agenda item: ESF regulation and CULT remitNela Riehl
2. Rapporteur (Gómez): ESF opinion: education, culture and youth earmarkingNela Riehl
3. Political groups on ESF: Flexibility vs binding quotas and youth focusNela Riehl
4. Commission and rapporteur: ESF role, NRPPs and social investment shareNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Cyprus Council Presidency: Education, youth, sport and Erasmus+

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

Introductory exchange with the Cypriot Education Minister on Presidency priorities for Erasmus+ 2028–2034, teachers and AI, youth policy and sport, followed by coordinated Q&A on teachers and VET investment, Erasmus+ budget and inclusiveness, youth dialogue, sport integrity and Cyprus-specific schooling issues.

In this chapter

1. Opening: Welcome and Cyprus Presidency contextNela Riehl
2. Minister (Cyprus): Erasmus+ 2028–2034 as top priority
3. Minister: Teachers, AI and core skills agenda

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Committee on Culture and Education Extraordinary meeting

Vote on amendments 62–103 to AI omnibus opinion

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The committee votes amendment by amendment starting with 62, including a compromise amendment and several checks by electronic vote (notably on amendments 65, 102 and 103), deciding on the core modifications to the draft CULT opinion on the digital omnibus.

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Committee on Culture and Education Extraordinary meeting

Digital omnibus on AI: Chair introduction and rapporteur’s stance

Nela Riehl and 1 other

The Chair presents the opinion on the Commission’s digital omnibus proposal amending the AI Act, stressing time pressure and the importance of AI literacy, after which the rapporteur outlines support for the text but warns against weakening key safeguards, defends maintaining deployers’ obligations on AI literacy, opposes implementation delays, and calls for clear labelling of AI‑generated content and formally approved codes of practice.

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Committee on Culture and Education Extraordinary meeting

Test vote and designation of substitutes

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

Switching to English for voting, the Chair conducts a test vote to verify the system, then reads the list of MEPs replaced by substitutes and confirms that the committee will vote on the sole agenda item: the opinion on the digital omnibus on AI.

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Committee on Culture and Education Extraordinary meeting

Opening of extraordinary CULT meeting and agenda

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

Mme Nela RIEHL opens the extraordinary CULT committee meeting, confirms adoption of the agenda and previous minutes, announces available interpretation, webstreaming, and a coordinated decision deemed approved, and recalls rules on physical presence and proxy voting under Article 216(7) EP Rules as well as the cancelled ministers’ meeting.

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Study findings on CULT‑relevant EU funds

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

Consultants present the mapping of 22 EU funding instruments, highlight underfunding and high demand in CULT‑specific programmes, and warn that planned integration into larger frameworks and less‑detailed regulations risk reducing visibility, earmarking, transparency and parliamentary oversight.

In this chapter

1. Study presentation – mapping CULT‑relevant EU funds and risks of integration
2. Q&A on study – visibility, equity, Erasmus+ VET, and recommendationsNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Transition to financing study and agenda setting

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

The Chair closes the structured dialogue with the Commissioner and opens the next agenda item, introducing the external study on EU financing instruments relevant to CULT policy areas and the experts mandated to present it.

In this chapter

1. Chair closes structured dialogue and introduces funding‑instruments studyNela Riehl
2. Study presentation – mapping CULT‑relevant EU funds and risks of integration

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Structured dialogue Q&A – cyberbullying, youth policy, sport and platforms

Nela Riehl and 1 other

Coordinators and other MEPs question the Commissioner on financing digital and media literacy, age‑verification tools, youth checks and Agora EU, sport funding and piracy, safeguarding minors in sport, Special Olympics support, and platform responsibilities, with the Commissioner detailing current and planned measures on sport investment, anti‑piracy, youth mainstreaming, parental digital skills, DSA‑based platform obligations, and cultural and educational mobility including UK cooperation.

In this chapter

1. First coordinators’ round – cyberbullying, age checks, Agora EU, sport fundingNela Riehl
2. Commissioner replies – sport investment, piracy, youth check, parents’ digital skillsGlenn Micallef
3. Second round – sport as peace, safeguarding, Special Olympics, platform dutiesNela Riehl
4. Commissioner replies – UK cooperation, European sport model, platforms and Agora EUGlenn Micallef

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Opening and Commissioner statement – Ukraine, sport, youth and cyberbullying

Nela Riehl and 1 other

The Chair opens the structured dialogue, recalls Parliament’s solidarity with Ukraine, and frames expectations on youth, culture, sport and online safety, followed by the Commissioner’s wide‑ranging introductory statement on the war in Ukraine, symbols in sport, DSA enforcement for minors, the new cyberbullying action plan, and youth participation in EU policymaking and sport.

In this chapter

1. Chair – opening, Ukraine context, commissioner’s mandateNela Riehl
2. Commissioner – Ukraine war and symbols in sportGlenn Micallef
3. Online protection, DSA enforcement and age of consentGlenn Micallef

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

CULT implementation report debate and institutional follow‑up

Sabrina Repp and 5 others

The rapporteur presents the draft EU Youth Strategy implementation report, political groups and EMPL stress access, inclusion and quality employment, the Commission outlines its approach to the next strategy, and the Chair closes with the timetable for amendments and inter‑committee coordination.

In this chapter

1. Presentation of CULT implementation report on EU Youth StrategySabrina Repp
2. Group reactions: access, simplification and territorial focusHélder Sousa Silva
3. Focus on vulnerable youth, mobility and digital citizenshipTiago Moreira de Sá

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

MEP questions on study findings and experts’ replies

Nela Riehl and 5 others

The rapporteur, shadows and other MEPs test the study’s conclusions on youth participation, inequalities and social justice, with experts responding on methodology, the limits of existing monitoring tools and uneven national commitment.

In this chapter

1. Rapporteur and shadows: using the study to shape the implementation reportNela Riehl
2. Political group perspectives on inequalities and social justiceTiago Moreira de Sá
3. Experts’ replies and limits of monitoring and national commitmentNela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

EPRS and experts: assessment of EU Youth Strategy

Nela Riehl Verts/ALE

EPRS and external experts present the EU Youth Strategy implementation assessment, detailing youth concerns, participation gaps, member‑state implementation performance, and recommendations for a post‑2027 framework and governance model.

In this chapter

1. Introduction to EPRS study on EU Youth StrategyNela Riehl
2. EPRS overview: context, youth concerns and participation gaps
3. Member‑state evaluation: effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, coherence
4. Recommendations for post‑2027 EU Youth Strategy framework

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Opening and votes on MFF, 2027 budget and Rule 220

Nela Riehl and 1 other

CULT opens its meeting and adopts its opinions on the MFF interim reports and 2027 budget guidelines, endorses the joint declaration "Europe for Culture" and confirms a coordinators’ decision under Rule 220, closing the entire voting block.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and MFF opinion votesNela Riehl
2. Single vote on CULT opinion for 2027 budget guidelinesNela Riehl
3. Adoption of joint declaration "Europe for Culture"Nela Riehl
4. Procedural vote on coordinators’ decision under Rule 220Nela Riehl

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Commission closing responses and next steps on media, AI and AVMSD

Henna Virkkunen and 1 other

The Commissioner concludes by detailing use of the DMA, EMFA and Agora EU to support independent media, assessing recommender systems and future anti‑piracy options, addressing cyber‑violence through the new directive, stressing investment in European AI infrastructure and linguistic diversity, and confirming that the priority is implementation and targeted updates of AVMSD and copyright rules, before the Chair closes and announces the resumption schedule.

In this chapter

1. Commissioner closing replies: Media, DMA/EMFA, piracy and cyber‑violenceHenna Virkkunen
2. Commissioner closing remarks: Languages, AI infrastructure and next stepsHenna Virkkunen

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Committee on Culture and Education Ordinary meeting

Catch‑the‑Eye questions: AVMSD scope, platform obligations and digital rights

Sabine Verheyen and 7 others

In short interventions, MEPs raise AVMSD coverage of platforms, algorithm transparency, bans on dependency‑creating design, an EU‑wide age limit and non‑mandatory security apps, support for local media, data on gendered cyber‑violence, technological and cultural sovereignty in AI, protection of minorities and regional languages, possible anti‑fake‑news legislation, and the role of media and digital literacy in countering disinformation and addictive services.

In this chapter

1. Catch‑the‑Eye I: AVMSD scope, algorithms, piracy and digital fairnessSabine Verheyen
2. Catch‑the‑Eye II: Enforcement coherence, security app and gendered abuseJoanna Scheuring-Wielgus
3. Catch‑the‑Eye III: DSA neutrality and linguistic diversity in AIEmma Rafowicz
4. Catch‑the‑Eye IV: Media and digital literacy in educationMarcos Ros Sempere

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