The European Commission has issued a stern warning to the management of the Venice Biennale over its decision to reopen the russian national pavilion at the 2026 exhibition. This was announced by Vice President Henna Virkkunen and European Commissioner Glenn Micallef in a joint statement.
The statement called such a move unacceptable against the backdrop of ongoing russian aggression against Ukraine. Brussels stressed that providing a platform to the aggressor directly contradicts the sanctions policy and the common position of the EU member states.
The position of the European Commission is unequivocal: if the organizers do not change their decision, they risk being left without financial support from the EU.
"We strongly condemn the decision of the Biennale Foundation to allow russia to reopen its national pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale in 2026… This decision of the Biennale Foundation is incompatible with the EU's collective response to russia's brutal aggression. If the Biennale Foundation insists on its decision to allow russia to participate, we will consider further action, including the suspension or termination of the current EU grant to the Biennale Foundation," the statement said.
The European Commission also recalled that all institutions and organizations within the bloc are obliged to act in accordance with the current restrictions. This means a complete refusal to provide a media or cultural platform to individuals who support or justify russia's war against Ukraine. An official response to this ultimatum is currently awaited from the Biennale Foundation.
As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, 11 countries and the EU are boycotting the opening of the Paralympics in Milan due to the admission of the russian federation and Belarus under their flags.
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