The European Parliament has approved the European Commission's new Creative Europe programme. Creative Europe allocates a budget of €1.46 billion for the cultural and creative sector for the next seven years. The figure represents a 9% increase on the available budget for the previous programme. The first calls for applications have been announced in December, under various categories of the Culture and Media sub-programmes.

Creative Europe will support:

• 250 000 artists and cultural professionals and their work, allowing them to reach new audiences beyond their home countries;


• More than 800 European films will receive distribution support so that they can be seen by audiences throughout Europe and the world;


• At least 2 000 European cinemas will benefit from funding, provided that at least 50% of the films they screen are European;


• More than 4 500 books and other literary works will receive translation support, allowing authors to break into new markets and readers to enjoy them in their mother tongue;


• Thousands of cultural and audiovisual organisations and professionals will benefit from funding for training to gain new skills and to strengthen their capacity to work internationally.


• A new financial guarantee facility enabling small cultural and creative businesses to access up to €750 million in bank loans.

The decision has been welcomed by the European Commission.

The first CALLS have been announced on 13 December for applications from cultural, creative and media organisations in Europe, for various programmes. Deadlines and eligibility conditions vary.

Further information can be obtained from the Creative Europe Desks in the eligible European countries