The future of culture in Europe is under scrutiny, with calls for alignment between political statements and financial support. An open letter and a new petition are urging the creation of a legal framework to protect artistic freedom and oppose reductions in the Creative Europe budget. In June, the Council of Europe, the European Commission, and the European Parliament signed a joint declaration titled Europe for Culture-Culture for Europe, highlighting the vital role of culture in shaping Europe’s identity and democratic values. The declaration recognizes culture as a strategic resource for resilience, security, and competitiveness. It includes commitments to protect artists from censorship and undue influence, ensure fair pay and working conditions, and regulate artificial intelligence to preserve intellectual property and transparency. It also promotes cultural mainstreaming, a policy approach that integrates culture into all areas of EU planning and funding. Despite these commitments, the declaration is not a budgetary document, and concerns remain about funding consistency. Over 200 cultural organizations, supported by the European Cultural Foundation, have signed an open letter urging the Council to reject cuts to the Creative Europe programme. For the fourth time in seven years, the sector is pushing back against proposed reductions. The Council's draft 2027 budget would cut the programme by €31.6 million in commitments and €10.53 million in actual payments compared to the European Commission’s proposal. Funding for all areas—€7.8 million from Culture, €23.2 million from MEDIA, and €0.6 million from a cross-sectoral segment—would be reduced. The timing is crucial, as 2027 marks the end of both the current Multiannual Financial Framework and the Creative Europe programme. The upcoming AgoraEU negotiations also remain unresolved. This year’s budget is the first chance to translate the declaration’s goals into action, and the signatories are urging the Irish Presidency and member states to restore the Commission’s original proposal. They also support the European Parliament’s CULT Committee, which has proposed an additional €15 million for the programme. In addition to the open letter, a new petition launched this week is calling for a Cultural Freedom Act for Europe. Initiated by Nela Riehl, a German Member of the European Parliament and chair of the CULT Committee, the petition questions what happens to cultural expression when funding is insufficient. It highlights a growing trend of cuts to cultural funding and a decline in freedom of expression across Europe. The rise of far-right political parties has led to increased attacks on and censorship of cultural works that do not align with nationalist views. When illiberal forces gain power, culture often becomes a target for silencing diverse voices, leaving artists vulnerable. Many face pressure to self-censor to avoid losing their livelihoods. The petition argues that without legal safeguards, a single election can significantly reduce cultural diversity. It proposes a framework modeled on the European Media Freedom Act, which established EU-wide rules for independent journalism. The Cultural Freedom Act would include three key measures: an independent funding guarantee to prevent public money from being used as a political tool, legal protection for artists and independent venues, and a system to monitor political interference and self-censorship. The open letter and the petition are both calling for the same thing: consistency between Europe’s political commitments and its financial actions. Europe has declared culture essential to its security, identity, and democracy. The upcoming budget negotiations will determine whether these promises are matched by real support. As the final year of the current financial framework approaches, the cultural sector is watching closely to see if the EU will follow through on its stated values.