Access to funding has been facilitated through higher co-financing rates, with greater contribution levels from Creative Europe for selected projects.

[10] After an interim evaluation, the programme was renewed and updated for the 2021-2027 period with an increased budget of €2.44 billion to bolster support for artists, cultural organizations, cross-border projects and international outreach.

[14] An integral part of Creative Europe is the Desk Network, serving as a vital link between the program and cultural/creative sectors across the participating countries.

The role and objectives of these national Creative Europe Desks are formally outlined in the Regulation of the European Parliament and Council establishing the program for 2021-2027.

[15] Desks operate within this network, working to successfully achieve mandated objectives through activities like promoting Creative Europe calls, organizing events and information sessions, providing consultations to potential applicants, and continually expanding outreach efforts to engage new sectors.

The MEDIA strand focuses on enhancing the competitiveness and international presence of the European audiovisual industry through development funding, distribution support, training programs and other measures.

The Cross-sectoral strand promotes transnational policy cooperation, innovative approaches to audience engagement, as well as actions supporting the Creative Europe Desks' operations and communication efforts.

Within the audiovisual domain specifically, Creative Europe aided the development and/or distribution pathways for upwards of 5,000 European films to reach audiences.

Furthermore, the program enabled 3,500 literary books and publications to be translated into other languages, increasing access to written works across linguistic borders on the continent.

From performing arts to news media, audiovisual to literature - these sectors grapple with common hurdles around content creation, distribution, audience engagement, and technological disruption.

A pioneering example is the Creative Innovation Labs,[22] which incentivizes players from different sectors to co-develop cutting-edge digital solutions with commercial potential.

These desks act as connectors, facilitating program awareness, stimulating cross-border cooperation, and ensuring outputs benefit stakeholders locally.