Lusófona University Joins European Coalition to Defend AgoraEU Budget

Universidade Lusófona is included in the official list of signatories to an appeal addressed to the European Council by the Future of Europe Cohort coalition and hundreds of European civil society organisations, cultural networks and academic institutions.

The initiative took place in the context of the European Council meeting held in Brussels on 15 and 16 October 2026, during which issues relating to European competitiveness and the next Multiannual Financial Framework were discussed.

The mobilisation follows budget cut proposals put forward by the Irish Presidency, which envisage an 8% reduction in the overall budget and particularly severe cuts to the AgoraEU programme, a key instrument for funding culture, media freedom, local journalism and civic participation across Europe. Although the savings resulting from cuts to this programme would account for just 0.2% of the total budget, the organisations warn of potentially irreversible consequences for European democratic resilience.

The AgoraEU programme plays a central role in promoting social cohesion, cultural diversity, freedom of expression and access to reliable information, supporting cultural organisations, independent media outlets and local civil society networks. These investments are considered essential to combating disinformation, strengthening trust in institutions and ensuring that citizens actively participate in democratic processes.

The importance of these areas is reinforced by European indicators showing that 42% of citizens identify the protection of democracy and fundamental values as the main reason for trusting the European Union, while 87% consider cultural exchange essential to strengthening a sense of European belonging. In economic terms, the cultural sector accounted for approximately 8.9 million jobs in the European Union in 2025, representing 4.3% of total employment.

This mobilisation brings together prominent organisations, including the European Federation of Journalists, Civil Society Europe, Culture Action Europe, European Civic Forum and the Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe. At national level, Universidade Lusófona joins organisations such as Academia Cidadã, Divergente, FilmEU – The European University for Film and Media Arts and the Sindicato dos Jornalistas (Portuguese Journalists' Union) in a collective position advocating European investment in culture, information and citizenship.

By endorsing this joint appeal, Universidade Lusófona joins hundreds of European and international organisations in calling on European Union leaders to safeguard robust funding under the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), ensuring at least the €8.58 billion proposed by the European Commission and advocating increased funding in line with the European Parliament's proposals.

Universidade Lusófona's participation in this initiative further strengthens its engagement in European cooperation networks and its commitment to promoting culture, civic participation and democratic values, recognising these areas as fundamental pillars of a more inclusive, competitive and resilient Europe.