Alongside political and economic relations, foreign cultural and education policy is an important pillar of Germany's foreign policy. This is a way of reaching people in other countries. It presents Germany in a variety of different ways. Culture and education are instruments that generate confidence and trust in Germany around the world. It thus lays broad foundations on which to build stable international relations.
In times of globalisation, targeted foreign cultural and education policy becomes increasingly important. The German Bundestag makes available almost 0.5 percent of the national budget for this purpose. The German government reports regularly on the guidelines, the conceptual approaches adopted, and the focuses of this policy. The Cabinet has now adopted the report covering the period July 2009 to November 2010.
 
In 2009 a total of 1.436 million euros were provided for foreign cultural and education policy activities. This was equivalent to 0.47 percent of the national budget. For 2010 funding was increased to 1.513 million euros.

http://www.bundesregierung.de/nn_6538/Content/EN/Artikel/__2011/01/2011-01-12-kabinett-auswaertige-kulturpolitik__en.html