IMPALA has published an action plan with three principles and six objectives for an EU industrial strategy for culture and independent music businesses.
On 7 May 2026, IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies, published its action plan “An Industrial Policy for Culture in Europe”. It sets out what a coordinated EU industrial strategy for culture should look like to support the sector's competitiveness, growth and diversity.
The plan came out during European Diversity Month, ahead of Europe Day, while the EU is implementing its Culture Compass, setting budget priorities for 2028–2034 and reviewing policies that affect culture.
Three principles
- Culture and diversity are societal, economic and geopolitical priorities with their own needs and opportunities.
- Creators and independent businesses are at the heart of Europe's cultural industries.
- Making Europe the best place in the world for culture requires a business plan with targets and action points.
Six objectives
- Mainstream culture in all policy areas and prioritise pluralism, independence and fair market access.
- Ensure strong rights, a proper AI regime and protection of all revenue sources.
- Help cultural companies grow through dedicated financing and tax mechanisms.
- Make diversity measurable and trackable, with new standards for digital services.
- Promote cultural diversity internationally and raise copyright standards.
- Support culture's leading role in sustainability and in equity, diversity and inclusion.
“It is important to have an ambitious approach to grow more big European independent companies which can offer more scale and prevent a ‘culture drain’ by making it easier for ownership of intellectual property and infrastructure to remain in Europe.”
— Dario Draštata, Chair of IMPALA, President of RUNDA Adria and Executive Director of Dallas Records
What the plan builds on
The EU already counts cultural and creative industries among its 14 key industrial ecosystems. In its Culture Compass, published at the end of 2025, the European Commission also acknowledged that culture's strategic importance for Europe is underestimated. IMPALA sees an industrial policy for culture as the logical next step.
The plan draws on Dan Fowler's report “Powering an Independent and Culturally Diverse European Music Ecosystem”, which found that independence goes hand in hand with cultural diversity and called for a rethink of how Europe supports its cultural and creative sectors.
“Today's new cultural releases and diversity are tomorrow's heritage.”
— Francesca Trainini, President of IMPALA and Vice-President of PMI (Italy)
Read the full plan on the IMPALA website.
The plan is part of IMPALA's 2025–2028 network programme co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of IMPALA only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Creative Europe.