Celebrating 20 years of the Faro Convention – Europe’s guiding light for heritage
Today we mark 20 years since the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society — the Faro Convention — was opened for signature. This landmark document has transformed how Europe understands, values, and engages with heritage.
The Faro Convention puts people and communities at the heart of cultural heritage, recognising it as a living, dynamic force that connects individuals, strengthens communities, and shapes our present and shared future. It affirms that the right to cultural heritage is inseparable from the right to participate in cultural life, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Heritage is not just the legacy of the past — it is a collective responsibility and a strategic resource for building a cohesive, democratic, and sustainable Europe that looks after the wellbeing of its citizens.
The Convention introduced the concept of “heritage communities” — groups of people who cherish and safeguard cultural heritage, passing it on to future generations. The text reminds us that Europe’s common heritage encompasses both tangible and intangible resources, as well as the values, principles, and experiences that unite us. This has long been Europa Nostra’s raison d’être as the largest pan-European civil society network committed to heritage.
As the European Commission prepares to publish the Culture Compass for Europe and discussions around the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) continue, the Faro Convention should be our guiding light in the EU and greater Europe. The shared motto at our recent European Cultural Heritage Summit held in Brussels — “Heritage Matters for Europe” — is both a conviction and a call to action: heritage must be central to European strategies and budgets, shaping a better future for Europe and its citizens.
For 20 years, the Faro Convention has proven that heritage connects, empowers, and inspires dialogue. Let’s keep it at the heart of Europe’s journey — because heritage matters for Europe, now more than ever, for our democracy and peace on our continent.
