On 21 March, music sector stakeholders and representatives from the European Parliament and European Commission gathered in Brussels to celebrate the launch of the European Agenda for Music (EAM). The European Agenda for Music was developed out of a continent-wide consultation launched by the European Music Council (EMC). Reaching out to the entire music sector, it identifies the sector’s collective needs and sets out priorities for the future. A powerful confirmation of the European music sector’s desire to join together in the promotion of a common cause, the Agenda details which directions to pursue in order to ensure a music sector that remains strong, fair, innovative and diverse in a rapidly changing world.  
 
Michel Magnier, Director for Culture and Creativity in the Directorate-General for Education and Culture in the European Commission, described the Agenda as “rich and comprehensive” and highlighted the importance of the EMC’s and other music stakeholders’ contribution to, and advocacy for the European music sector. Mr. Magnier upheld the European Agenda for Music as a valuable and timely contribution to current discussions at the European Commission on a dedicated funding strand for music.
 
Helga Trüpel, Vice-Chair of the Culture and Education Committee in the European Parliament, spoke of the importance of supporting culture at a European level, affirming that “music in particular has the capacity to touch and move people. That’s why the European Agenda for Music is so important.”
  
Both Helga Trüpel and Michel Magnier emphasized that the Agenda comes at a crucial time for European cultural policy, with a new European Agenda for Culture and proposals for the future of EU funding programmes after 2020 coming out soon.
 
EMC President Ian Smith and EMC Secretary-General Ruth Jakobi spoke of the history and challenges of the European Agenda for Music. Stef Coninx from the Flanders Arts Institute and Chair of the EAM Steering Group turned the spotlight onto how the Agenda can be used by all members of the European music sector to institute change in their regional or national communities.
 
Past and present came together in two inspiring performances by cellist Benjamin Glorieux, who played with technological “assistance” to honour the European Day of Early Music and the 333rd anniversary of the birth of Johann Sebastian Bach.