EUROPEAN CIVIL SOCIETY CALLS ON THE EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY IN FAVOUR OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
PRESS RELEASE
The Hague, 20 December 2005 – “It is vital that a comprehensive strategy with regard to cultural heritage be adopted by the EU Institutions and Member States and that action benefiting cultural heritage be mainstreamed into all relevant EU policy and action areas” , such was the core message of the major European Policy Forum “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe” which was held in Brussels by Europa Nostra, in cooperation with the European Economic and Social Committee, on 7 December 2005. With over 200 representatives from 40 countries present, this Forum assembled the full range of actors from the public sector and civil society involved in heritage conservation and enhancement, from the local and regional to the national and European levels. The debates built on the current mobilisation in favour of the reinforcement of the cultural dimension of Europe by highlighting the specific role which cultural heritage can and must play in the Europe of the Culture and in the process of European integration.
Ján Figel’, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, affirmed that “a common vision for cultural heritage is an absolute necessity, especially in the light of art. 151-4 of the Treaty, which calls for the general inclusion of cultural aspects in all Community policies”. “Cultural aspects are already taken into consideration in some fields of action of the union, amongst which the Structural Funds and research programmes. However, the potential for using the different Community Funds in favour of culture is far from being completely exhausted” added MEP Nikos Sifunakis, Chairman of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education”.
“This requires a global vision and an enhanced coordination between the different services and Institutions of the European Union. We are not asking that additional resources be spread out in favour of cultural heritage, but rather that the existing resources be better utilised in order to reconcile objectives that may at first hand seem contradictory”, declared HRH the Prince Consort of Denmark, President of Europa Nostra in his closing key-note address, speaking on behalf of the vast movement of European civil society actively involved in heritage protection. He concluded by recommending to the representatives of the EU Institutions that culture be dealt with in a similar manner to that by which the environment and development are already treated, through the establishment of an institutional mechanism for evaluating the impact of EU legislation on culture and heritage.
Cultural heritage is an asset and a resource for Europe and for its citizens. “Awareness of Europe ’s shared cultural heritage contributes fundamentally to the building of a sense of European citizenship and a sense of belonging, which are indispensable cohesive factors in the process of European integration”, stressed Otto von der Gablentz, Executive President of Europa Nostra.
“Culture and cultural heritage can bring down barriers. They build bridges of peace and understanding. This sort of spirit is essential in such problem areas as Cyprus or in the South Caucasus,” confirmed René van der Linden, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this context, he stressed the important action undertaken by Europa Nostra with regard to attitudes of civil society to cultural heritage in Kosovo.
The participants of the Forum recognised that cultural heritage also provides considerable benefits for society, the environment and economy. “Heritage conservation has been portrayed as the alternative to economic development, “either we have historic preservation, or we have economic growth.” That is a false choice. In fact, heritage-based economic strategies can advance a wide range of public policy priorities”, pointed out Donovan Rypkema, President of Heritage Strategies International. He explained that “Globalisation, be it economic or cultural, means change — change at a pace that can be disruptive politically, economically, socially, psychologically. Adaptive reuse of the heritage resources can provide a touchstone, a sense of stability, and a sense of continuity for people and societies that help counteract the disruption which economic globalisation can exacerbate”.
Indeed, a ctivities related to heritage conservation, enhancement and education contribute greatly to the achievement of current EU policy priorities, and in particular the full implementation of the Lisbon objectives, the Gothenburg agenda, and the promotion of social cohesion and inclusion, as indicated in Europa Nostra’s position paper, “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe”, which served as a basis for discussion during the Forum. “We cannot transfer buildings or people working in this sector to somewhere else, like manufacturing in China”, promoted Everardus Hartog, Head of Unit for Thematic Development at the DG Regional Policy in the European Commission.
Cultural heritage contributes fundamentally to the quality of life of Europe’s citizens and to the character and beauty of our living environment. “Europe's citizens will not be made into Europeans by rational arguments only – they must also be motivated emotionally: they must want to make an active contribution to this process and be able to feel the personal benefit”, stated Anne-Marie Sigmund, President of the European Economic and Social Committee.
Civil society organisations should be recognised as important partners for the definition and implementation of public strategies and policies, both at national and at European level, which are directly or indirectly related to heritage. “We must work together, listening to our citizens, not simply dictating to them. If we are ever to enjoy the same level of legislative and financial support as that enjoyed by the environmental sector, we must engage with people at a local level”, underlined Simon Murray, Director of Operations, The National Trust, UK. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, underlined this significant role by drawing attention to the Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society, recently adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe, which is based on a democratic concept which puts people rather than institutions in charge of their heritage.
The participants at the Forum called on the European Union to take into account the acquis of the Council of Europe, which has played a leading role for cultural and cultural cooperation in Europe over the past fifty years. Further joint initiatives, such as the European Heritage Days and recent activities in Kosovo, should be developed between these two organisations and civil society.
Ján Figel’ concluded by praising Europa Nostra for its Position Paper and for its contribution to the future continuous dialogue between the EU Institutions and European civil society with regard to cultural heritage. He congratulated Europa Nostra for its leading role in protecting and promoting cultural diversity and safeguarding cultural heritage in Europe.
The Forum was organised with the kind support of HYDRO, Banca Intesa and VOLVO.
For further information, please contact
Nadia Fringer Tel. + 31 70 302 4057 / sec@europanostra.org
Eléonore de Merode Tel. + 31 70 302 4052 / ao@europanostra.org
Charlotte O'Connor Tel. + 31 70 302 4055 / co@europanostra.org
The Forum Programme can be found at:
http://www.europanostra.org/brussels_forum.htm
The speeches and photographs are available at: http://www.europanostra.org/brussels_forum_photos_speeches.htm
To download Europa Nostra’s position paper “Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe” which will serve as a basis for discussions at the Forum, go to http://www.europanostra.org/downloads/documents/position_paper_to_eu_institutions.pdf
Click here for the European Economic and Social Committee website
Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Heritage, is the representative platform of over 200 heritage NGOs active throughout Europe. It is the voice of this vast movement of European civil society active in the field of heritage towards international bodies concerned, in particular the European Union Institutions, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. Europa Nostra is dedicated to putting heritage and its benefits in the mainstream of public consciousness and to making heritage a priority for public policies both at European and national levels. Its specific objectives are to promote, at a European level, high standards of quality in the fields of heritage conservation, architecture, urban and rural planning and to advocate a balanced and sustainable development of urban and rural, built and natural environment. Europa Nostra supports national and international campaigns for the preservation and rescue of Europe’s heritage at risk. It encourages exemplary initiatives in favour of the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage by recognising outstanding heritage achievements, in particular through the running of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. Through its various activities, Europa Nostra seeks to highlight the importance of cultural heritage as a building block of European identity and as a contribution to the strengthening of the sense of European citizenship.
