On 3 September 2025, the European Commission presented the second part of its proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, completing the vision it launched with the first package in July 2025.
This second set of proposals covers domains such as the internal market and customs, justice, Euratom and nuclear decommissioning, overseas territories, and the Pericles V programme. With this, the Commission finalised its draft MFF: a total of almost € 2,000 billion, focusing on making the budget larger in scale, smarter in design, and with sharper strategic priorities. The structure of the new MFF is illustrated below:
While the overarching focus lies on competitiveness, notably through the new European Competitiveness Fund targeting decarbonisation, digital transition, and defence objectives, the MFF 2028–2034 also introduces a unique new programme to support culture, media, and civil society, called AgoraEU. This represents an effort to recognise that Europe’s competitiveness is not only economic or technological, but also cultural and societal.
AgoraEU: a new integrated programme for culture, media, and society
AgoraEU is one of the most notable novelties in the new budget framework. It brings together under one umbrella the EU’s main instruments supporting culture, media, and citizenship.
Its main objectives are to:
- Promote Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage;
- Increase the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors, particularly in media and audiovisual industries;
- Protect artistic freedom and media freedom;
- Defend and promote equality, active citizenship, rights, and values.
The proposed budget for AgoraEU is approximately € 8.58 billion over 2028–2034, divided across its three strands as follows:
- € 1.8 billion for Creative Europe – Culture
- € 3.2 billion for MEDIA+
- € 3.6 billion for CERV+
Purpose and broader context
According to the Commission, the rationale behind AgoraEU is to simplify and strengthen the EU’s support for sectors that nurture democracy and social cohesion. Currently, initiatives such as Creative Europe and Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) operate separately, each with distinct administrative procedures. AgoraEU aims to streamline these frameworks, reduce fragmentation, and foster synergies across cultural, media, and civic organisations.
Beyond simplification, the programme also reflects a political statement: that Europe’s strength lies in both economic competitiveness and cultural vibrancy. By consolidating and increasing funding, the Commission seeks to amplify support for creative industries, safeguard media pluralism, and empower citizens’ participation in European democracy.
Next steps
As with all components of the MFF proposal, AgoraEU will be negotiated between the Council of the EU (requiring unanimity) and the European Parliament under the special legislative procedure of Article 312 TFEU. Once adopted, it is expected to launch at the start of the next MFF period, in 2028.
What you can do now
While AgoraEU is still a proposal, the current programmes remain fully active until the end of the 2021–2027 period. This is therefore a key moment to maximise existing funding opportunities and prepare strategically for the next generation of calls.
You can already:
- Request a final review of your CERV-2025 proposal — the calls close on 23 October 2025, so this is the final opportunity for fine-tuning before submission.
- Ask support for preparing your application for the CREA-MEDIA-2026 calls, targeting the audiovisual industry, supporting activities such as content development, business innovation, and audience engagement.
- Try the CulturEU online guide — featuring 75 funding opportunities for the cultural sector from 21 different EU programmes, including Creative Europe.
- Explore local and national initiatives to leverage more easily accessible funding opportunities that can complement or strengthen your future EU applications.
FirstBlue’s experts can assist with proposal reviews, application preparation, and strategic funding advice to ensure your organisation is well positioned for both current and future EU opportunities under the upcoming AgoraEU framework.
