Benefits of enhancing cultural cooperation with the EU: evidence from Scottish stakeholders

The Scottish Government has published a paper covering their stance on the benefits of enhancing cultural cooperation with the EU based on evidence from Scottish stakeholders. Angus Robertson sent the paper to the UK Government on 19 March 2026.

Reflecting on the International Culture Strategy consultation, the paper highlights commentary from key stakeholders around the importance of cross-border cultural cooperation, and how enhancing this would be a positive step for the industry in Scotland. The submission from Culture Counts is quoted:

“To connect, share ideas and collaborate without borders is key to the pursuit of art and culture. International cultural activity strengthens Scotland’s reputation as an innovative, connected culturally ambitious country. Culture has the inherent ability to span borders and both outgoing and incoming cultural product, artists and ideas contribute to the artistic and economic health of Scotland’s culture sector as well as those of partner countries. With recent challenges and risk shrinking horizons, it is important to do everything we can to retain and strengthen links.”

The paper reflects on the EU’s Creative Europe programme and the vital role it played in supporting cross-border cultural collaboration, funding, and international networks, benefits which the Scottish Government and sector stakeholders agree cannot be replicated at national level. 

It notes that while the UK was a member of the EU, projects supported in Scotland were linked to 34 of the 41 countries participating in the Creative Europe programme, and that 60 projects in Scotland, across cities and regions including Dundee, Shetland, South Uist, Inverness, Aberdeenshire, Lewis, and the central belt, received a total of more than €18.6 million between 2014 and 2020 – which also in turn provided confidence for further funding to be committed.  These figures demonstrate the severity of the impact on Scotland’s culture sector.

The paper concludes that the Scottish Government is currently providing funding to the British Council to carry out a feasibility study into the establishment of a support service for cultural export and exchange. This study is seeking views of the sector in Scotland to establish the main barriers to cultural exports and exchange, and what support could be put in place to overcome these. After this study concludes in May 2026, evidence will be made available to the UK government and the EU, with a view to hopefully relieving the constraints under which the sector currently operates.