Culture in International cooperation: Cooperation with Southern Neighbourhood countries

Culture has been a central component of the EU's partnership with the Mediterranean region since the Barcelona Process in 1995. In July 2008, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was re-launched as the Union for the Mediterranean with the aim of enhancing relations between the countries on both sides of the Mediterranean basin. The new scheme includes 27 EU Member States and 16 partners across the Southern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Western Balkans. In addition to cooperation programmes, a political dialogue in the area of culture has been shaped through ministerial meetings.

Regional programmes in the areas of heritage and audiovisual have been in place since 1998. In the period 1998-2017, € 57 million are directed to support partnerships between heritage institutions and facilitate appropriations by populations.. Cooperation in the audiovisual and cinematographic field is supported by € 48 million since 2000.89 Furthermore, the EU supports the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures (€ 15 million since 2000). The Foundation brings civil society and policy makers together to foster intercultural dialogue and respect to diversity.