EIB publishes essay “Togetherness – A New Heritage Deal for Europe” by Hermann Parzinger

Read Essay in English (original)│ French │ German │ Italian │ Spanish │ Arabic

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has just released a seminal essay entitled “Togetherness – A New Heritage Deal for Europe” written by Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger. In this major essay, the Executive President of Europa Nostra advocates for a heritage-led transformation of Europe’s society, economy and the environment.

Europe’s cultural heritage is a vast, multifaceted mosaic showing who we were, who we are and who we aspire to be. We are all responsible for this huge legacy, which is precious but also fragile.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed that unexpected events can suddenly change our way of life. In the future, other threats could well pose further challenges to our safety, health and environment as well as our social structures, values and ability to compete on the global markets.

How can Europe fulfil its promise if we do not reinvent and redesign the very basis of the European project and come up with innovative and bold solutions for a better and more sustainable future together?

“A New Heritage Deal for Europe” is not only necessary but also possible through a heritage-led transformation of Europe’s society, economy and the environment, with the process powered by civil society and supported by local, regional, national and European organisations and institutions.

“We have to focus on what brings us together, not what divides us, and our cultural heritage is what connects this complicated puzzle. If we want Europe to be a beacon of hope and solidarity in a vulnerable world, we have to rediscover and reassert our common ground and our shared foundation – our togetherness”, wrote Europa Nostra’s Executive President.

The essay “Togetherness – A New Heritage Deal for Europe” can be read and downloaded on the European Investment Bank website. The essay is published in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Arabic on the EIB website.

This is the fifteenth essay in the Big Ideas series created by the European Investment Bank (EIB). Since 2018, the EIB has invited international thought leaders to write about the most important issues of the day. These essays are a reminder that we need new thinking to protect culture, heritage and the environment, promote equality and improve people’s lives around the world.

Since 2013, Europa Nostra has been running among its key activities the 7 Most Endangered Programme in partnership with the European Investment Bank Institute.