The EU Backoffice, our new podcast series produced in cooperation with the European Network of Cultural Centres, unravels how the EU cultural policy process really works, bringing you beyond the headlines and into the corridors where decisions are taken.
Through expert interviews and debates with insiders, artists, and activists, our host Matéo Vigné takes the audience on a deep dive into the world of EU cultural policy, to shed light on who shapes the agenda, how the institutions work, and what challenges they face.
Episode #1: Decrypting the EU's Cultural and Media Policy: Touching Base
October 2025
Cultural and media policy in the European Union is the result of a complex set of institutions, processes, and interactions. Understanding how these pieces fit together is essential.
This episode offers a structured overview of the main actors involved, from the European Commission to the Parliament and Council, as well as the agencies and programmes that translate policy into action. It explores how responsibilities are divided, how decisions are shaped and negotiated, and how different bodies interact within the broader EU framework.
By setting out this foundation, the interview and debate provide the shared reference point needed to follow the series’ upcoming explorations of European cultural and media policy in greater depth.
With: Benjamin Feyen (EU Policy Expert), Georg Haeusler (Director of Creativity, Culture, and Sport at the European Commission – DG EAC), Olga Perez (Policy Advisor – European Parliament).
Host: Matéo Vigné (Journalist)