Challenges and Opportunities for Joined-Up Governance of EUropean International Cultural Relations

This chapter aims to answer the question: Is the joined-up governance of European international cultural relations possible? It reflects on the progress of joined-up cultural governance made in cultural policy in general and cultural relations in particular, since the 2012 European Union’s Council Resolution on Cultural Governance in the context of the development and implementation of the 2016 EU Strategy in International Cultural Relations, as well as referencing some antecedents in joined-up cultural policy governance proposals. It examines what has worked, why and how it might be improved, collecting via desk research and select interviews, indications of good practices and lessons learned, to support the mainstreaming of joined-up cultural governance in international cultural relations. The relevance of the analysis is enhanced by necessary reflection on the impact of recent and enduring crises that affect the world and the European continent, such as the Russian invasion of the Ukraine.