The European Commission has assured Maltese MEP Alfred Sant that it has found a solution to allow the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) to continue its activities, following the EU decision to dismantle the Orchestra by September due to lack of funds.  Dr Sant was instrumental to reverse the EU decision taken in May to cut the funding for the EUYO. Maltese musicians, forming part of the EU Orchestra, had asked Dr Sant to intervene on their behalf in the European Parliament to revoke the decision. Dr Sant had joined Maltese musicians on 20 May when they teamed up with other musicians across Europe to join the “European Symphony” in front of Teatru Rjal, Valletta in a show of international solidarity.

That same day Dr Sant took the initiative to collect the signatures of other MEPs from different political groups at the European Parliament to pile pressure on the European Commission on this issue.  Dr Sant  asked the EC whether following the unsuccessful bid for funding under the EU’s Creative Europe funding programme, the EU had any plans to provide an alternative source of funding in order to ensure the survival of the European Youth Orchestra which had been through the years successful in bringing together youths from all 28 EU member states to express European unity through musical expression and partnership. Dr Sant’s Parliamentary Question was co-signed by 23 other MEPs from different political groups including Maltese MEPs Marlene Mizzi (S&D), Miriam Dalli (S&D) and David Casa (EPP).

EC Commissioner Tibor Navracsics told Dr Sant that when it became aware that the Orchestra had financial problems, the Commission found a solution to allow the European Union Youth Orchestra to continue its activities. The Commission counts on the Orchestra in these challenging times to adapt their activities to better reflect the "European" role they have and to spread the European spirit of freedom, creativity and opennes in Europe and for Europe. Navracsics said that for the last 40 years, the European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) has been a symbol of Europe's cultural diversity. The Commission wants to keep the spirit of the Orchestra alive, by allowing it to train the best European musicians in Europe for the benefit of all European territories.