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PRESIDENT BARROSO SENDS VIDEO MESSAGE FOR THE EUROPEAN HERITAGE AWARDS CEREMONY AT JERóNIMOS
jun 05
Mr. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, sent a special video message of greetings to the European Heritage Awards Ceremony which was held on 1 June at the World Heritage Site of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. This ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage/Europa Nostra Awards.
In his video message which was broadcasted during the ceremony, after the opening speech by Mrs Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, President Barroso said that “it was symbolic that this ceremony was being held at the Jerónimos Monastery, so important for Portuguese history, where the treaty of accession of Portugal to the European Communities was signed in 1986 and where the Lisbon Treaty was signed in 2007.”
“The Lisbon Treaty rightly underlines the wealth of Europe’s cultural diversity when it clearly states that the Union "shall ensure that Europe's cultural heritage is safeguarded and enhanced". Indeed, it is also through cultural heritage that a European idea and a European identity are consolidated, that do not replace but add to our local and national identities and affiliations. It is also a link with our past and our history which better allow us to know where we come from and also how better we can shape our future.” added President Barroso.
Speaking about the newest proposal made by the European Commission on the future “Creative Europe” programme, President Barroso insisted that “spending on culture is not a luxury but on the contrary an investment to promote smart, sustainable and social inclusive growth, and also to contribute to job creation.”
Copyright: Pedro Melim/Europa Nostra
Full text in English of the video message by President Barroso
Full text in Portuguese of the video message by President Barroso