European Movement UK has welcomed today’s report from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which urges the Government to seek associate membership of Creative Europe – the EU’s flagship funding programme for the cultural and creative sectors.

This is a call we made loud and clear in our Manifesto on Europe, and it’s one the Government should now act on without delay.

Since leaving the EU, the UK has been locked out of Creative Europe – despite historically being a net beneficiary of the programme and a leading player in Europe’s creative industries.

UK replacements, such as the UK Global Screen Fund, while a step in the right direction, simply do not compare. They offer less funding, support fewer activities, and lack the international reach that helped UK creatives collaborate, train, and grow global audiences.

This isn’t just about money – it’s about networks, influence, and creative leadership. Joining Creative Europe would reconnect the UK to a continent-wide ecosystem of talent, ideas, and opportunity – giving our world-class cultural sector the platform it needs to thrive.

Joining Creative Europe as an associate member would be a significant step forward – but what the cultural sector truly needs is the full removal of barriers to performing, selling content, and accessing funding across Europe.

That is why our Face the Music campaign is shining a spotlight on the plight of musicians, touring artists and backstage staff since the UK left the EU, and is urging the Government to negotiate a bilateral agreement – one which guarantees visa-free travel for UK artists in the EU, and for EU artists in the UK.

Crucially, ensuring that UK film and television continues to qualify as ‘European’ content is vital to the industry’s future. Protecting that status is clearly in the UK’s interest. Participation in Creative Europe would support this goal by fostering co-productions and shared creative projects, helping to maintain the UK’s connection to the European market and making it harder to challenge the classification of UK content under EU audiovisual quotas.

The appetite to return is strong across the sector. The case is clear. The time is now. If the Government is serious about resetting relations with Europe and backing our creative industries, it should move fast to secure the UK’s return to Creative Europe.