Europa Nostra, the Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage, is an umbrella network of heritage organisationsand is considered today the voice of Europe ’s organised civil society committed to cultural heritage. The network is composed of 250 member organisations, 210 associate members and 1500 individual members from 53 countries, of which 45 in Europe. The power of the network comes from a shared passion for cultural heritage, and the readiness of our members to invest their time, expertise, connections and often money for the pursuit of our goals ... www.europanostra.org
LATEST NEWS
Europa Nostra Endorses the Campaign Launched by Italia Nostra against the Passage of the Tramway through the Historic Centre of Florence 5 February 2008
At a press conference held in Rome on 5 February 2008, Europa Nostra and Italia Nostra expressed their firm opposition to the construction of a tramway line through the very heart of the historic centre of Florence. According to the current plans, which are promoted by the Municipality of Florence, a 32-meter long tramway would, among others, run right through the Piazza del Duomo, in between the Baptistery and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo), and would constitute an unacceptable and intolerable “aggression” on the delicate historic fabric of the World Heritage City of Florence. While recognising the need for the city of Florence to invest in an environmental-friendly public transport system which would include the construction of one or more tramway lines, Mr Giovanni Losavio, President of Italia Nostra, Mr Antonello Alici, Secretary General of Italia Nostra, Mrs Rossana Bettinelli, Vice-President of Italia Nostra and Europa Nostra Council Member, and Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Europa Nostra's Secretary General, urged the Florence authorities to find an alternative solution for the citizens’ and tourists’ mobility needs in the historic centre of the city. This could be done with the help of electrical (mini)busses which are currently already in use and which would serve as the main transportation vehicle within the limits of the historic centre of Florence.
This protest campaign was started by citizens of Florence and is now gaining a new momentum with a nation-wide campaign launched by Italia Nostra, and supported by Fondo per l’ambiente italiano (FAI), another Italian Member Organisation of Europa Nostra, and other Italian heritage organisations active both on local and national level. The public appeal against the tram running through the heart of Florence was also signed by a number of distinguished Italian personalities from the world of heritage, culture, tourism and business and will be open for signature for interested citizens beyond the frontiers of Italy. Given the fact that the historic city of Florence constitutes an irreplaceable part of Europe’s common cultural heritage and indeed a precious contribution to the heritage of the mankind, Europa Nostra felt it to be its duty to endorse the campaign and to engage in raising the awareness of the European public opinion on the campaign for the safeguard of the historic heart of Florence. Italia Nostra and Europa Nostra also believe that the case of Florence has an emblematic importance and calls for a Europe-wide discussion on the best practices concerning mobility schemes for Europe’s historic cities which need to strike the right balance between making those cities viable and better adapted to the needs of the 21st century and ensuring the best possible safeguard of their invaluable historic and artistic heritage which form part of the roots, identity and quality of life of local communities and Europe’s citizens at large.
further information
Italia Nostra website
EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards
Just Published: Europa Nostra Scientific Bulletin nr 61
The Europa Nostra Scientific Council has just published issue 61 of its Scientific Bulletin. This la test issue of the Bulletin focuses on “Reconstruction or new construction of mediaeval castles in the 19th century”, the theme of the 2006 Annual Colloquium of the Scientific Council, which took place in Marksburg/Braubach am Rhein in Germany .
more information
Europa Nostra Scientific Bulletin
information on how to order
Laurie Neale, Communication Officer, co [a] europanostra.org
Meeting of Europa Nostra's Landscape Working Group 4 February 2008
The Landscape Working Group met for the first time under the leadership of its new Chairman, Mr José-María Ballester, at the Europa Nostra Secretariat in The Hague on 4 February 2008 . Amongst the principal issue discussed were the implementation of the Council of Europe’s European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000), the impact of climate change on Europe’s landscapes, the European Commission’s Communication “An Integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union” (The Blue Book) published on 10 October 2007 and Action Plan, the impact of wind farms and solar panels on the landscape, and the need to adequately manage change in Europe’s territories.
more information
Eléonore de Merode, Secretary of the Landscape Working Group , policy [a] europanostra.org
Invitation: Europa Nostra Present with an Information Stand at TEFAF in Maastricht 6-16 March 2008
From 6 to 16 March, Europa Nostra will be present with an information stand at The European Fine Arts Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht to create visibility and to inform the visitors of TEFAF on Europa Nostra's mission and activities for the benefit of Europe 's Cultural Heritage. Europa Nostra can be found at stand nr 521.
Europa Nostra's presence at TEFAF is made possible thanks to the kind support of TEFAF. It reflects the shared commitment by Europa Nostra and TEFAF towards Europe 's Culture and Cultural Heritage and their necessary safeguard.
more information
www.tefaf.com
Invitation: Europa Nostra 2008 Annual Congress in Newcastle 11-15 June 2008
The Europa Nostra 2008 Annual Congress will take place from 11 to 15 June 2008 in Newcastle and Gateshead in the North of England. As part of the Congress a Forum on Intercultural Dialogue and a Forum on Engineering Heritage will be organised. More details and the programme of the Congress will be sent to Europa Nostra Members at the end of February with the invitation for the 2008 Annual Congress.
more information
Louise van Rijckevorsel, Events Coordinator, meo [a] europanostra.org
Europa Nostra and Italia Nostra to Give a New Impetus to their Cooperation
On 7-8 January 2008, Europa Nostra’s Vice-President Denis de Kergorlay (France) and Europa Nostra’s Secretary General Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, met in Rome with high representatives of Italia Nostra, the founding member of Europa Nostra and one of the leading heritage conservation organisations in Italy: Mr Giovanni Losavio (President), Mrs Rosanna Betinelli (Vice-President and representative of Italia Nostra in the Europa Nostra Council) and Mr Antonello Alici (Secretary General). Both organisations expressed a strong wish to give a new impetus to their cooperation for the benefit of the safeguard of cultural heritage in Italy and in Europe, by intensifying a regular communication and exchange of information and documentation and by undertaking, whenever appropriate, joint campaigns in favour of endangered cultural heritage in Italy . Italia Nostra also expressed full support to the invitation which was made by “Distretto Taormina Etna”, an Associate Organisation of Europa Nostra, to hold the Europa Nostra 2009 Annual Congress in Sicily . As far as Heritage at Risk is concerned, Italia Nostra invited Europa Nostra and its members to support the campaign against the passage of the tramway through the historic centre of Florence (see latest news). Italia Nostra also confirmed its wish to become more actively involved in the activities of Europa Nostra at European level and to provide regular input to Europa Nostra’s work based on the Italian experience.
further information
Italia Nostra website
Europa Nostra Meets with European Maritime Heritage
On 22 January, Mr Per Jessing (President elect) and Mr Thedo Fruithof (Secretary) of European Maritime Heritage (The European Association for Traditional Ships in Operation), Member Organisation of Europa Nostra since 2007, met with Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic (Secretary General) and Ms Eléonore de Merode (European Policy Officer) at the Europa Nostra International Secretariat in The Hague. Amongst the subjects of discussion were the need to form an alliance of European networks and organisations active in the field of heritage, the Integrated Maritime Policy for the EU (The Blue Book) adopted by the European Commission on 10 October 2007 and its application to heritage, the organisation of an event by EMH in conjunction with the European Commission’s DG Maritime Affairs, and the unintended adverse impact of EU Directives and legislation on maritime heritage.
further information
www.european-maritime-heritage.org
EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards
Update: EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards
From 29 January to 3 February, the European Heritage Awards Jury for Category 1 - Conservation and Category 4 - Education, Training and Awareness Raising met in The Hague to judge the entries for the 2008 EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. The Jury reviewed 82 dossiers from 24 countries throughout Europe and awarded 4 projects with a European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage and 16 projects with a Europa Nostra Medal. The winners will be announced at the beginning of March, together with the winners in Category 2 - Research and Category 3 - Dedicated Service.
The European Awards Ceremony, in which Mr Ján Figel', Member of the European Commission responsible for Education, Training, Culture and Youth and Europa Nostra's President HRH The Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón are expected to participate, will take place on 12 June 2008 in Durham Cathedral in Durham (UK), a World Heritage Site, as part of the Europa Nostra 2008 Annual Congress in Newcastle.
On 31 January 2008 the local ceremony to celebrate the Medal for the Croatian Apoxyomenos, one of the 2006 Europa Nostra Award winners in Category 1c - Conservation of Works of Art, took place at the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb.
more information
Sander van der Ven, Heritage Awards Coordinator, awards [a] europanostra.org
AUSTRIA / THE NETHERLANDS Two Unique Panoramas Threatened by Urban Development
Europa Nostra was alerted by the International Panorama Council (IPC) to the threats to two of the world’s rarest classical panoramas: Panorama Mesdag (1881) in The Hague, The Netherlands and the “Battle of Bergisel” (1895) in Innsbruck, Austria . Both examples belong to a unique category of panoramas in which the original combination of painting, foreground, building and daylight illumination has been preserved intact. The structural stability of the rotunda in which Panorama Mesdag is housed is severely affected by the construction of a near-by two-storey deep parking garage currently being built in the unpredictable sub-soil of the Dutch City of The Hague. No assessment of the impact that the construction will have on this monument was carried out prior to the beginning of the works. On 5 February, however, following the advice in a report by the Technical University of Delft on the impact that building the garage will have on the Panorama rotunda, the municipality of The Hague decided to temporarily bring a halt to the construction works until adequate measures have been taken to protect the building. In Innsbruck, new developments planned by the city authorities will imply the demolition of the panorama rotunda and the relocation of the paining to a modern museum building. Both museums have appealed to the city authorities to ask them to take the necessary measures to ensure the preservation of these monuments.
further information
Panorama Mesdag website
"Battle of Bergisel" website
BELGIUM Civil Society in Flanders Unites to Oppose Plans for the Enlargement of the Schipdonk Canal
Concerned about its potentially disastrous impact on one of Flanders’ most beautiful landscapes, various action groups have drawn Europa Nostra’s attention to the plan to improve accessibility between the port of Zeebrugge and the hinterland by enlarging the Schipdonk Canal. The association “’t Groot Gedelf” has launched a petition to collect the 15.000 signatures it needs to request a hearing with Flemish Parliament, and will organise an action day on 27 April 2008 along the canal to raise awareness amongst a broad public about the value of this unique polder landscape.
further information and to sign the petition
www.tgrootgedelf.be
ITALY Europa Nostra Endorses the Campaign Launched by Italia Nostra against the Tramway in the Historic Centre of Florence 5 February 2008
See Latest News
KOSOVO Solidarity Network with Cultural Heritage in Kosovo Meets in Rome 7 January 2008
Members of the Solidarity Network with Cultural Heritage in Kosovo, which was launched in July 2007 in Paris, met again on 7 January 2008 in Rome, upon invitation of Mr Mounir Bouchenaki, Director General of ICCROM, and under the chairmanship of Ambassador Adahl, President of Cultural Heritage without Borders (CHWB). Representatives of other organisations such as INTERSOS (Italy), Patrimoine sans frontières (France), and UNESCO (the Venice Office) also attended the meeting. Europa Nostra was represented by its Vice-President Mr Denis de Kergorlay, who is also Chairman of Europa Nostra’s Kosovo Taskforce, and by its Secretary General, Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic. Mr Goran Färm, Swedish MEP, a special guest at the meeting, presented the new financial instrument amounting to 3 million Euro for 2008 (and an equal amount for 2009) which was introduced by the European Parliament for an EU pilot project regarding the restoration and safeguard of endangered cultural heritage in Western Balkans. The Rome meeting therefore focussed on the way in which members of the Solidarity Network with Cultural Heritage in Kosovo should organise themselves in order to become a valuable partner for the European Commission in the implementation of the above-mentioned pilot project which is expected to focus mainly on Kosovo. At the Rome meeting, Europa Nostra stressed the importance of also involving heritage organised from the region in order to benefit from their expertise and to encourage the empowerment of regional/local heritage experts and communities and to stimulate the cross-border cooperation between them.
more information
Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Secretary General, sg [a] europanostra.org
Dick Sandberg, Coordinator of the Network, CHWB, info [a] chwb.org
ROMANIA Another Victory Secured for Rosia Montana
Campaigning by “Alburnus Maior” and the local community, led to yet another victory on 22 January 2008 when the Alba Iulia Court of Appeal’s declared the illegality of the General Urbanistic Plan and Zonal Urbanistic Plan for the Industrial Development Area of Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RGMC), which would have prevented any kind of economic activity by the local community in the area and would have forced the relocation and resettlement of the local population and the entire public infrastructure. This decision will lead to the annulment of the certificate issued by Alba County Council to RMGC. Should RGMC still be unwilling to abandon its gold-mining project, it will have to start the processes for obtaining a new mining license for the perimeter of Rosia Montana right from the beginning, setting it at least ten years back in time.
further information
Alburnus Maior, alburnusmaior [a] ngo.ro
UNITED KINGDOM Project for Housing Development at Entrance of Avebury World Heritage Site Approved by the Local District Council
Despite strong protest from the heritage conservation community, including English Heritage, The National Trust, the Avebury Society and ICOMOS UK, Kennet District Council approved on 10 January the proposal to knock down a 1930s garage and house sited within 200 metres of the outer rim of the World Heritage Site of Avebury to replace them with five new houses. Avebury’s stone circle – far larger then the one at Stonehenge – is one of the largest megalithic monuments in Europe and is thought to be 4,500 years old. Local residents and the parish council are however wholly in favour of the proposed new homes as they believe this plan will bring people back to the village whose population is steadily dwindling. Conservationists nevertheless object to this proposal as it does not meet with planning policy or the Management Plan objectives for the World Heritage Site. Moreover, they believe that the approval of this plan will set a dangerous precedent for similar developments on the rim of the site.
further information
Telegraph article
Telegraph Earthlog, weekly column on the environment
more information on Heritage at Risk issues
Eléonore de Merode, Heritage at Risk, policy [a] europanostra.org
INTO formally launched at 12th International Conference of National Trusts 3-5 December 2007
From 3 to 5 December 2007 , the 12th International Conference of National Trusts (ICNT) organised and hosted by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) took place in New Delhi . The Conference was attended by over 300 participants from 40 countries from all parts of the world. This bi-annual International Conference aims to bring together National Trust-type organisations and other heritage NGOs and experts from all over the world to meet each other, discuss topical issues related to heritage conservation and to exchange ideas and best practices. The focal point of the Conference was the formal launch of a new heritage body, the International Organisation of National Trusts (INTO). In Delhi, the INTO Charter was signed by members of the Steering Committee, who had brought the Charter into being, as well as 35 other signatories who were present at the Conference. One of the main aims of INTO will be to encourage the setting up of new National Trusts-type organisations across the world and to enable capacity building in areas where the needs for the protection of heritage are great but the civil society structures are not yet sufficiently in place.
The overall theme of the Conference was “Heritage and Development” which was divided into 9 sub-themes: 1) heritage and globalisation; 2) conservation of heritage in regions of conflict and natural disasters; 3) heritage tourism and conservation; 4) funding for conservation projects; 5) regional cooperation and role of national trusts; 6) heritage and conservation management and urban renewal; 7) legislation; 8) heritage education; 9) intangible heritage. Europa Nostra's Secretary General Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic took part in a panel 2 on conservation of heritage in regions of conflict and natural disasters with a presentation on “Safeguarding the Endangered Cultural Heritage in Kosovo: a Special Role for Civil Society Organisations”. In Delhi , Europa Nostra welcomed the coming into being of INTO and expressed a keen interest to develop a mutually beneficial cooperation between Europa Nostra and INTO in the years to come.
further information (recommendations of the 12th ICNT and texts of the key-note speeches)
Conference Website
Historic Hotels of Europe to launch a new initiative: “European Routes of Hospitality and Cultural Heritage”
On 23 January, Historic Hotels of Europe (HHE), an association which brings together over a thousand hotels that wish to highlight and enhance the importance of Europe’s cultural and historic heritage, and which supports the work of Europa Nostra, held a meeting at the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels to present its new initiative to launch a European scheme called “European Routes of Hospitality and Cultural Heritage”. Representatives of EU Institutions (the Slovene Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee) attended this meeting during which the HHE announced the formal launch of the project at the next European Tourism Forum. This annual event, which will take place in Paris in October 2008, during France ’s presidency of the European Union, will focus on the theme of Quality in Tourism. Europa Nostra’s Secretary General, Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, attended the Brussels meeting which was also an occasion to further discuss the best forms of partnership which could be developed between Europa Nostra and Historic Hotels of Europe.
further information
Hanne Mostecky, Historic Hotels of Europe, hm [a] historichotelsofeurope.com
Call for Proposals EUROMED HERITAGE IV – Last Chance
EUROMED HERITAGE IV (2007-2013) aims to strengthen and consolidate mutual understanding and dialogue between cultures by the promotion of Mediterranean cultural heritage and public awareness-raising. A total budget of EUR 13.500.000 is available through this programme. Grants of 500.000 to 1.500.0000 will be made available for the following types of actions: (i) strategic information, education and awareness-raising campaigns; (ii) promotional / educational activities; (iii) training; (iv) development of management plans; (v) innovative approaches aiming at safeguarding, preserving and promoting the tangible / non tangible cultural heritage; (vi) twinning activities (N-S / S-S) aiming to foster synergies in the field of creative and productive activities promoting local development; (vii) support for the creation / design / management of decentralised museums and support for training actions aiming at professional upgrading; and (viii) cultural tourism initiatives aiming at increasing awareness on the significant role of local craft industries. Partnerships must be composed of at least one organisation from a EU Member State and at least one organisation from a Mediterranean partner country or territory. The majority of project activities must take place in at least two of the Mediterranean partner countries and territories (corresponding to minimum 40% of the budgeted costs). The deadline for submitting proposals is 15 February 2008.
further information
EUROMED HERITAGE website
Information Session on the European Agenda for Culture, Brussels, 19 February 2008
Following the adoption of the first ever European Agenda for Culture by the Culture Ministers of the EU Member States on 15-16 November 2007, the European Commission will organise an information session for civil society on 19 February 2008 in Brussels. During this meeting the participants will be given the opportunity to find out more about the Open Method of Coordination in the area of culture, as well as the ways in which stakeholders in the cultural field can contribute to this new policy strategy for culture.
further information and registration
culture-agenda.teamwork.fr
European Commission is looking for Expert Evaluators
The European Commission is looking for Expert Evaluators for assessing funding requests for research proposals submitted to the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the funding programme for research in the fields of technological development and demonstration activities. The FP7 will run from 2007 to 2013.
As of 2007, there are 31 “European Technology Platforms” in a wide range of research fields set up to help the European Commission determine where research is most needed in each particular field. For the construction industry, the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) was set up. The ECTP has determined 7 Focus Areas most needing research action, including the Focus Area of Cultural Heritage. Europa Nostra has contributed to proposals in this Focus Area, as well as in the special Advisory Group for Users and Clients where the importance of Europe ’s cultural heritage to society as a whole has been defended (See the Spring/Summer 2007 Europa Nostra Newsletter).
further information
Registration for Experts for Research Activities
Information for making Research Proposals for FP7 funding
Laurie Neale, Communications Officer, co [a] europanostra.org
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