From left to right: Europa Nostra Secretary General Sneska-Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, European Commission Vice-President in charge of Promoting our European Way of Life Margaritis Schinas, Europa Nostra Vice-President Androulla Vassiliou, and Head of Brussels Office Jimmy Jamar. Image credits Credits: EC – Audiovisual Service.
Europe and its citizens are confronted with many pressing issues: an unprecedented health emergency, a deep environmental crisis, a dangerous rise of extremism and populism and increasing threats to fundamental values such as the rule of law, to name a few. At a time when the European project is yet at another crossroads, we must “change the tone”: we need a change of narrative and course of action when shaping the future of Europe.
Europa Nostra, Europe’s leading citizens’ movement to protect and celebrate cultural heritage, deeply believes that now more than ever, we need to focus on what brings us together rather than what divides us. If we want Europe to become a beacon of hope and a force for good in a complex and vulnerable world, we have to rediscover and reaffirm our shared cultural values and heritage.
In its recent Paris Manifesto “Relançons l’Europe par la culture et le patrimoine culturel!’, (2019), Europa Nostra asserts that cultural heritage is an undeniable part of Europe’s identity, and one of the areas that generates a strong engagement by communities and citizens. Europa Nostra therefore calls on European leaders to place cultural heritage where it belongs: at the heart of the European project.
As an instrument that connects people to places, brings citizens closer together and fosters a sense of belonging, cultural heritage helps us shed some light to today’s challenges. Not only does cultural heritage bridge our past, present and future; it also enhances collective remembrance and historical empathy which are key for peaceful and democratic societies.
As demonstrated by the study Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe[1] (2015), heritage has manifold positive impacts on our economy, culture, society and the environment and can contribute to achieve the Union’s key priorities, for example in terms of social cohesion, sustainable development, job creation, health and well-being of our citizens or the fight against climate change.
Since it was founded nearly six decades ago, Europa Nostra has been raising awareness on the value of cultural heritage for Europe; advocating for heritage towards policy-makers at all levels; celebrating excellence in heritage protection and mobilising to save Europe’s endangered heritage.
Through these intertwined actions, Europa Nostra’s ultimate goal is to contribute to the preservation and understanding of our shared past, to take lessons for the present and to shape new visions for the future of Europe.
Credits: Europa Nostra. Collage of some of the cultural heritage sites selected for the ‘7 Most Endangered’ programme by Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute
The birth of Europa Nostra was itself the result of a European common vision inspired by a sense of cultural solidarity. Back in 1963, only 5 years after the signature of the Treaty of Rome, the ideals of European integration were gaining momentum, not only among governments but also among individuals and citizens associations.
It was in this positive climate that 17 civil society organisations from 10 different countries founded Europa Nostra. Ever since, Europa Nostra has grown into the largest and most representative civil society network of organisations and individuals committed to Europe’s cultural heritage.[2]
The fact that Europa Nostra’s headquarters are located in The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, and that its Brussels Liaison Office in located at the very heart of EU decision-making is not accidental. Throughout the last decades, Europa Nostra’s voice has had a significant echo in the design and implementation of European and International heritage-related policies. This has been achieved thanks to deep-rooted partnerships with key international actors such as the UNESCO and its World Heritage Centre, the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, as well as key non-governmental stakeholders. Likewise, Europa Nostra is recognised as the major civil society partner of the EU and its Brussels-based institutions when it comes to cultural heritage[3].
Among the major heritage policy developments of the past years, let us highlight the first-ever European Year of Cultural Heritage celebrated in 2018. The designation of this year confirmed that cultural heritage, due to its untapped potential for Europe and the wellbeing of its citizens, is gradually given a higher priority on the EU political agenda. Europa Nostra’s voice was instrumental before and during this European Year: not only did Europa Nostra advocate for its designation – together with other civil society stakeholders like the European Heritage Alliance 3.3[4] – but also actively contributed to its preparation, implementation and, therefore, to its success.
With a minimal financial investment, the European Year brought together all EU Institutions, Member States, civil society stakeholders as well as millions of citizens who care about Europe’s shared heritage. This gave an important impetus to EU heritage policy, action and funding, mainstreaming heritage across different EU priorities. Europa Nostra is now fully committed to sustain the legacy of this Year and to upscale its achievements in the future.
Two years after this historic European Year, a lot has changed. Europe has new leadership: 2019 saw the election of a new European Parliament as well as new Presidents of the European Commission, European Parliament, European Council and European Central Bank. In the first months of 2020, Europa Nostra has been meeting with and advocating towards new EU leaders with the ambition to forge a New European Deal for cultural heritage over the solid foundations laid by the European Year.
For Europa Nostra, such a “New Heritage Deal”, in full complementarity with the future EU Green Deal, should result in a renewed and prolonged period of a much stronger and more coherent commitment of public and private stakeholders to cultural heritage. We are convinced that this will be a most welcome contribution to the social and economic recovery of Europe in the aftermath of the COVID19 pandemics. Why? Because Europe needs to invest in its human and cultural capital to respond to the complex challenges it faces. Because cultural heritage has the power to bring Europeans closer together and trigger new popular support towards the European project. Because only through education, culture and heritage can Europe fulfil its promise of being a continent of peace, stability and prosperity in today’s rapidly changing and turbulent world.
[1] Cultural Heritage Counts For Europe Report (2015) Europa Nostra, ENCATC, Heritage Europe, the Heritage Alliance, the International Cultural Centre and the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation at the University of Leuven.
[2] Europa Nostra brings together 340 member organisations – including non-governmental and professional associations, foundations, museums, public bodies, universities, historic cities and villages -, as well as nearly 1,000 individuals from over 40 countries.
[3] Europa Nostra runs two successful programmes in cooperation with the European Union: the 7 Most Endangered scheme launched in 2013 with the European Investment Bank Institute, and the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards scheme run in partnership with the European Commission since 2002.
[4] The European Heritage Alliance 3.3 is an informal platform of 49 European and international heritage networks. Its objective is to work closely together to promote the untapped potential of cultural heritage and advocate for adequate policies and funding.
