The European Commission has set up a European Expert Network on Culture (EENC) to get advice and support in its policy development. The Network will support the Commission in the analysis of culture policies and their implications at national, regional and European levels.

The general objective of the European Expert Network on Culture is to provide high-quality advice and support to the European Commission in order to enhance understanding of the challenges and promote decision-making based on solid research knowledge and analysis. The network will advise and support the Commission in the analysis of culture policies and their implications at national, regional and European levels.

Further to an open call of tenders for the setting up of the European Expert Network on Culture, the coordination of the network has been entrusted to a consortium led by Interarts Interarts Foundation for International Cultural Cooperation and Culture Action Europe. The network is expected to provide expert advice to policy makers, synthesising current research and main issues in a way useful for policy development.

European Expert Network on Culture specific tasks

1. Guidance and advice on ad-hoc questions: To provide clear, concrete and constructive guidance and advice to the European Commission on topics relevant to the development of cultural policies in the EU, by responding to approximately 30 ad-hoc questions formulated by the Commission.
2. Analytical reports and/or studies: To enhance the European Commission’s knowledge-base on specific subjects and support the preparation of important initiatives and policy cooperation activities, by preparing 8 short analytical reports or 4 longer studies on the basis of demands presented by the Commission.
3. Mapping of experts and organisations: To map experts and organisations from both Europe and other regions active in the policy areas under the remit of the EENC, through a qualitative inventory that will be updated quarterly.
4. EENC website: To disseminate information on the activities of the EENC and other data of interest in the field of cultural policy research (publications, events, news), through a specific website which will be regularly updated.