SCHEME group (Steering Committee for the Harmonisation of European Music Education)

Advocacy in Action: How Schools and Organisations Can Shape the Next EU Budget

How are EU priorities for culture and education decided - and how can schools, organisations, and practitioners influence them? The question is extremely pressing right now, because the multi-year financial budget of EU funding programs is currently being negotiated – with major implications for cultural policy and also the role of music education in the countries.

This session explains how the European Union funds culture and education through its long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and where democratic input matters most. Participants will explore practical advocacy routes: engaging with the European Parliament, contributing to consultations, mobilising networks, and using evidence and storytelling to shape funding priorities. The session equips participants with concrete actions to influence EU decision-making - individually and collectively - before key budgetary choices are finalised.