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Since 2011, UNESCO and the European Union (EU) have joined forces at global, regional, and national levels, impacting millions through enhanced education, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage conservation, freedom of expression, and crisis management. As we celebrate EU Visibility Week, we reflect on this impactful collaboration that has achieved significant milestones in sustainable development and peace. 

The partnership between UNESCO and the EU was formalized with the signing of a on October 8, 2012, which set clear strategic priorities and fostered dialogue and exchange of best practices. Over the last decade, UNESCO and the EU have undertaken 109 projects worldwide, valued at over USD 311 million, covering all of UNESCO’s fields of competence – culture, education, freedom of expression, equal access to information, and science. 

From 1st to 5th July, we will be holding an EU partnership visibility week. During this week, we aim to highlight the EU-UNESCO partnership on social media, highlighting key joint priorities, policy dialogues and the results and impact of our programmes funded by the EU. This week is also organised in the context of the first EU-UNESCO Partnership Dialogue that will take place on 3 July in Brussels. 

The EU visibility week will focus on key joint priorities.

To accelerate SDG4 and leave no one behind, the EU and UNESCO are committed to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, by strengthening cooperation to accelerate the realization of SDG4. The EU is a key partner in global coordination and monitoring efforts, as a member of the SDG 4 High-level Steering Committee brought together by UNESCO, as well as a strong support to the UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report which analyzes global education trends and advocate for effective education policies. The partnership also promotes youth, diversity and skills development: Transcultura creates opportunities for entrepreneurship, socio-economic projects and collaboration in the cultural and creative sectors, heritage and tourism within the Caribbean region and with the EU. Finally, girls and women remain a priority as demonstrated by the ICT-enabled STEM and VET education project in Tajikistan, which improves the quality of upper secondary education and teacher training for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subject with a strong focus on girls. 

Advancing a human-centered digital transformation is another shared priority. The UNESCO-EU partnership fosters a safe technological environment in the service of humankind through the development and dissemination of knowledge and skills and the development of ethical standards. UNESCO is working closely with the EU regarding the global Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and its implementation with the Ethics of AI project. At country, regional and global level, UNESCO and the EU aim to create a safer digital space where the fundamental rights of users are protected. Through several initiatives worldwide, such as the Social Media 4 Peace initiative, UNESCO and the EU strengthen the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content and disinformation online while protecting freedom of expression  as well as a transparent internet eco-system, notably social media.   Finally, Transcultura supports young people in developing digital creativity. 

Supporting green and blue transitions is a vital part of the partnership. UNESCO mobilizes its global scientific networks and expertise to promote sustainable societies and protect the environment building blocks with the internal and external green and blue agendas of the EU.  Community resilience regarding natural disaster risks is enhanced through scientific research and intersectoral approaches involving natural heritage, UNESCO sites, geoparks, and intangible knowledge. The project focuses on protected, showcasing the added value of UNESCO’s scientific network. In line with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), UNESCO and the EU join forces to strengthen ocean literacy which is another key area, with UNESCO’s promoting international cooperation in marine sciences to improve the management of oceans, coasts, and marine resources.  

Protecting human rights and livelihoods to promote peace and cultural diversity is a core objective. UNESCO and the EU strengthen the protection of freedom of expression through support to free, independent and pluralistic media while ensuring safety of journalists. In Afghanistan, the project Support to Afghan Media help media outlets and journalists, particularly women, ensuring access to humanitarian and educational information for millions of people. Protecting cultural heritage in emergency situations is another critical area. Through the implementation of its mutually reinforcing Culture Conventions, UNESCO works with the international community to protect culture and promote cultural pluralism in emergency situations, implementing activities in times of civil strife and warfare, as well as in the wake of disasters caused by natural or human-made hazards. In Yemen, UNESCO and the EU work together to rebuild cultural sites and provide training to locals. 

As we celebrate this significant collaboration during EU Visibility Week, we will highlight how this strategic partnership contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering peace. Follow us on , and to learn more !