The objective of the study is to provide an overview and analysis of EU funding instruments relevant to the CULT Committee’s remit (culture and creative sectors, education, youth, sport, media). The study covers the current 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the proposals for the 2028-2034 MFF. The study will provide an extensive mapping all relevant instruments within the respective policy areas, analyse their strengths, weaknesses and synergies, provide a comparative analysis between the programming periods, and develop concrete policy recommendations for EU decision-makers, with particular focus on the role and competences of the European Parliament.

Data is collected through systematic desk research, followed by the development of an instrument matrix and multiple instrument fiches, serving two main purposes. First, they serve a descriptive role, to provide a structured overview of all EU funding instruments available in the 2021–2027 programming period, as well as of the ones planned for the post-2027 MFF within the relevant policy areas. Second, they serve an analytical role, to assess strengths and weaknesses, as well as exploring synergies of EU funding instruments available, highlight areas for improvementand and formulate policy recommendations for EU decision-makers, particularly members of the EP and the CULT Committee post 2027.

The study covers more than 20 EU instruments in the current period (including Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, Creative Europe, CERV, ESF+, ERDF, Horizon Europe, RRF, among others) and will incorporate the new 2028–2034 proposals (e.g. renewed Erasmus+ merging with ESC, the new AgoraEU programme, etc.).

The study is led by t33, in consortium with Blomeyer & Sanz, and is coordinated by the t33 internal expert François Levarlet.