Minister O’Donovan to attend meeting of EU Culture, Audiovisual and Media Ministers and meet with European Commissioners Micallef and McGrath and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education, MEP Nela Riehl
-
From: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Published on: 13 May 2025
- Last updated on: 13 May 2025
- Minister O’Donovan to highlight support for the culture and creative sector in the meeting of EU Ministers for Culture, Audiovisual and Media
- Minister O’Donovan to meet with EU Ministers, European Commissioner Micallef and Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education to discuss preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU
- Minister O’Donovan to meet with European Commissioner McGrath to discuss supports for the independent commercial media sector and Ireland’s work on tackling disinformation
The Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, will today represent Ireland at a meeting of EU Ministers for Culture, Audiovisual and Media where he will join Ministers from across the union to discuss the future direction of EU culture policy and funding, as well as adopt conclusions on supporting young artists and cultural and creative professionals in their careers, and on Council priorities for inclusion in the upcoming evaluation of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive.
Minister O’Donovan will meet with Commissioner Glenn Micallef (Malta), the European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport. The Minister will discuss priorities for the new EU Strategic Framework for Culture (the Culture Compass), the future of EU culture funding, and priorities for Ireland’s upcoming EU Presidency in 2026.
Minister O’Donovan will meet with MEP Nela Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education, as well as hold bilateral meetings with several EU Culture Ministers, in preparation for Ireland’s EU Presidency.
Finally, Minister O’Donovan will tomorrow meet Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, to discuss support for the independent commercial media sector, including support to protect viability and plurality, as well as Ireland’s work to counter disinformation and implement the European Media Freedom Act.
Speaking ahead of today’s meetings, Minister O’Donovan said:
"I am pleased to travel to Brussels today to meet with fellow EU Ministers for Culture, Audiovisual and Media. The culture agenda at this week’s Council meeting is particularly timely and significant, as we look forward to the development of the EU’s new strategic framework for culture, the Culture Compass, as well as the critical issue of future funding for culture at EU level. Ireland will be a strong advocate for the EU to build on the success of the Creative Europe funding programme.
"I also look forward to meeting with European Commissioners Micallef and McGrath over the coming days, and MEP Riehl, Chair of the European Parliament Culture Committee, to kickstart our engagement on preparations for Ireland’s Presidency of the EU. It is vital that we sustain close relations across the key institutions of the EU as part of the preparations for and delivery of the Presidency, and I look forward to discussing our plans with colleagues.”