Brussels, 20 February 2026 – The Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the European Union held the training seminar “How to Make the Most of the Creative Europe Programme? Innovation and Opportunities in the EU,” aimed at professionals and organizations interested in accessing European funding in the cultural and audiovisual sectors. The seminar was delivered by Carmen González, Cultural Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union (REPER), who presented the Creative Europe programme as the European Union’s main instrument for supporting the cultural, creative, and audiovisual sectors for the 2021–2027 period.
The event was opened by Pilar Ruiz Huélamo, Director of the Delegation to the EU, who emphasized that the cultural and creative sectors are a strategic area for European competitiveness and for the international positioning of Spanish cultural industries. She highlighted the importance of bringing European programmes closer to companies and professionals and of strengthening their participation in EU-funded projects, particularly in a context of digital transformation and increasing global competition.
Carmen González explained that Creative Europe is structured into three sub-programmes. The Culture sub-programme supports European cooperation projects across various artistic and creative fields, promoting the mobility of artists and the circulation of works. MEDIA is focused on the audiovisual sector, offering funding for the development, production, distribution, and exhibition of content, as well as for professional training and audience development. The Cross-sectoral strand fosters collaboration between different cultural and creative sectors, with particular emphasis on innovation, media literacy, and support for quality journalism.
The speaker highlighted the economic weight of these sectors and noted that Creative Europe not only serves as a funding instrument but also as a driver of European cultural cooperation and of strengthening the professional and business ecosystem.
She also provided a general overview of some of the programme’s main opportunities, such as European cooperation projects, mobility grants for artists and professionals, cultural networks and platforms, and various support schemes for the European audiovisual sector. Carmen González also stressed the role of Creative Europe offices in Spain as key information and advisory points for entities interested in submitting projects.
The speaker further pointed out current challenges facing the cultural and audiovisual sectors, such as the fragmentation of the European market and the need to improve the international distribution of works, and emphasized Spain’s potential to strengthen its presence in European projects and its role as a bridge with Ibero-America.
With this initiative, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s Delegation to the European Union reinforces its role in promoting European programmes and supporting Spanish companies and professionals interested in taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the European Union in the fields of culture, creativity, and innovation.
For more information, please visit the Creative Europe website.