Eurovision and Erasmus: The Limited Cultural Ties That Bind Europe

An opinion piece argues that the Eurovision Song Contest, Erasmus program, and European Capitals of Culture are the only significant cultural exchanges between EU member states. The author, Stefano Monti, notes that Italians follow Eurovision, and data shows high engagement across participating countries. He asserts that beyond these events, there is little ongoing cultural interaction among Europeans. Monti identifies three certainties: strong public interest in other countries' cultures, the success of Erasmus in fostering connections, and the current bureaucratic nature of EU cultural policy, which focuses on co-financing research, films, and projects rather than continuous exchange. He proposes creating a permanent international competition like Sanremo or a talent show format for all EU countries, revising school curricula to include deeper study of European societies, and organizing traveling contemporary art exhibitions. He also suggests supporting film distribution and independent musician tours in lesser-known EU regions. Monti criticizes the EU for treating culture as an event rather than a tool for mutual understanding and connection, arguing that the union currently relies on economic interests and needs a foundation of cultural proximity among people.