At the International Conference “Defending Democracy: Battlefield of Truth” in Skopje, North Macedonia, Friso Wiersum, representing the European Cultural Foundation, delivered opening remarks on the crucial role of culture in fostering European belonging, democracy, and solidarity.
In his address, Wiersum emphasized that culture is not merely an art form, but a vital space where societies negotiate how they want to live together, uphold the rule of law, and strengthen democratic participation. He highlighted the importance of supporting Ukraine’s cultural sector amid the ongoing war, stressing that attacks on cultural heritage are attacks on national identity, democratic values, and European integration.
Wiersum also shared the Foundation’s work to connect cultural networks across Europe, promote inclusion, and advocate for a European Cultural Deal for Ukraine, ensuring that European citizens understand Ukraine as an integral part of Europe today and in the future.
Opening Remarks by Friso Wiersum
Hello, Jabir. Hello to everyone following live in Macedonia or online. It’s a pleasure to be here. I am representing the European Cultural Foundation, which may not be familiar to everyone yet. Allow me to briefly introduce the Foundation.
The European Cultural Foundation is a longstanding organization dedicated to promoting culture across Europe — not simply for culture’s sake, but because culture is a vital tool to grow a sense of European belonging, bring people together, inspire hope, foster democracy, and imagine a shared future for Europe. We are now in our 71st year, having celebrated our anniversary last year. While celebrations were modest, our mission is more urgent than ever.
Jabir, you mentioned governments that cut funding for culture during times of crisis or war. There is a famous anecdote — whether completely true or not — that during the Second World War, a minister proposed to Winston Churchill to spend more on the war by cutting expenses on arts and culture. Churchill reportedly replied: “If we want to do so, then why are we fighting a war?” I think a lot lies beneath that answer.
If we want Europe to truly be our home, we need to strengthen European belonging. Eurobarometer opinion polls show that a growing number of people in EU member states feel connected to Europe, and even in many non-member states, there is a positive sentiment towards Europe. This sense of belonging needs to be renewed with every generation.
Culture, in this context, is more than arts; it is a space to learn from others, understand ourselves, and build societies together, both now and for the future. It supports democracy, rule of law, and public participation. In some ways, we may even be living in a “post-truth” or “post-law” era, where the legal frameworks that have maintained European societies since the Second World War are increasingly challenged.
Historically, emerging nation-states in the 19th century created national museums, newspapers, and public spaces. In Europe today, there is still a need to cultivate a European public space — safe spaces, both online and offline, where people from diverse backgrounds can meet, discuss, and negotiate how we want to live together.
The European Cultural Foundation is active in all member states of the Council of Europe — more than just the EU — and works to bring people, networks, and initiatives together. Our advocacy focuses on placing culture higher on the EU’s strategic agenda and securing more funding for culture in the next multiannual financial framework.
But culture is not an end in itself. It is the space where democratic participation, inclusion, and the foundations of society come together. Culture allows us to decide collectively how we want to live together.
A key aspect of our current work is supporting Ukraine. We advocate for a European Cultural Deal for Ukraine — to support Ukraine’s cultural sector, the cultural diaspora across Europe, and to help embed cultural networks in Ukraine. Culture is central to strengthening rule of law and democracy in Ukraine, both now and after the war.
Since 2014, Ukraine has suffered attacks on its cultural heritage. As European Commissioner for Culture Mikalev has emphasized in our discussions, “If you want to attack a nation, attack its cultural heritage.” Russia’s war is therefore not only territorial; it is a war on the minds of Ukrainians, on their democratic choices, and on their ability to align with European values rather than imperialist ones.
To counter this, the European Cultural Foundation has supported cultural initiatives, creators, and networks in Ukraine, helping them connect with the wider European cultural community. Through these efforts, more Europeans can understand that Ukraine is as much a part of Europe as Denmark or Spain.
In conclusion, culture is not peripheral — it is central to building a democratic, inclusive, and shared European future. Supporting Ukraine culturally is a vital part of defending democracy and European values today.
The panel was held as part of the international conference “Defending Democracy: Battlefield of Truth”, organized within the framework of the project “Democratic Navigator”, with the support of the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany.