YouTube survey finds EU creators shut out of funding and policymaking

European creators say they are struggling to access public funding and have little influence over government decisions affecting their businesses, according to a YouTube survey spanning all 27 EU member states.

More than 20,000 people took part in the platform’s Creative Capital report, which calls on policymakers to give digital creators greater access to existing funding and creative industry support.

Some 63% of respondents said they receive little or no support when engaging with government bodies, while 65% lack access to public grants.

YouTube is calling for the sector to be better represented in official economic data and for EU institutions to adapt existing creative industry programmes to include digital-first businesses.

The report found 64% believe greater recognition from traditional creative industries would help them thrive, while 60% reported insufficient support for specialist training and workforce development.

Recommendation algorithms also emerged as a major concern. Some 83% of respondents said recommendation systems were important to their growth and revenue, while 71% warned that reduced visibility would threaten their livelihoods.

YouTube used the findings to argue against rules requiring platforms to give greater prominence to certain organisations, saying such measures could come at the expense of independent creators.

The company estimates that its creative ecosystem contributed more than €8.4 billion to EU GDP in 2025 and supported more than 220,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

YouTube’s warning over prominence rules echoes concerns raised by the creator industry in the UK, where the government has been considering measures that would make news from public service media and other “trustworthy providers” easier to find on social platforms.