The Agreement between the Republic of North Macedonia and the European Union on the participation of North Macedonia in the EU’s Creative Europe programme (2021-2027) was signed. Ambassador Agneza Rusi Popovska, Head of Mission of the Republic of North Macedonia to the EU and the European Commission’s Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, signed the agreement on North Macedonia’s inclusion in the programme over the next seven years.
“By signing the agreement, our country has joined the new programme of the European Union intended for the culture, creative and audiovisual sectors,” the Ministry of Culture said in a press release. The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union adopted the programme on 28 May 2021. The Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 has a budget of €2.44 billion and is implemented under three strands: Culture, Media and Cross-Sectoral Cooperation.
“The programme recognizes cultural diversity as a top priority in responding to the needs and challenges of the cultural, creative and audiovisual sectors. The main objectives of the programme are to safeguard, develop and promote cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage, and to increase the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, in particular the audiovisual sector. The novelties of the programme will contribute to the recovery of these sectors, reinforcing their efforts to become more inclusive, more digital and environmentally more sustainable,” reads the press release.
“European Union funding under the various actions of the programme ranges from 80 to 40 percent, which is a confirmation of the high share of grants and maximum funds for approved projects. The programme offers opportunities for different types of support to relevant sectors and covers many target groups as potential participants in projects (cultural and creative sectors, audiovisual sector, educational institutions, civic associations, municipalities and local institutions, private organizations, etc.),” reads the press release.
The programme is implemented through the Creative Europe Desk North Macedonia at the Ministry of Culture (sub-programme Culture) and the Film Agency (sub-programme Media).
