Europa Nostra contributes to the discussion on Cultural Heritage and Funding Possibilities held at the European Parliament in Brussels
Europa Nostra’s Secretary General Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović contributed to the discussion on Cultural Heritage and Funding Possibilities held on 23 June 2026 at the European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by MEP Francisco Millán Mon, Chair of the EP Intergroup on European Cultural Heritage, Ways of Saint James and other European Cultural Routes.
Photo credit: Europa Nostra
Following the EP plenary discussion on the Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe” on 18 June, the meeting brought together MEP Nela Riehl, MEP Hélder Sousa Silva and José Manuel Fernández Arroyo (DG EAC, European Commission), alongside policymakers and heritage stakeholders, to discuss how the Culture Compass for Europe and the Joint Declaration can be translated into concrete policies and adequate funding for culture and cultural heritage within the next EU budget (2028-2034).
Europa Nostra also reiterated its appreciation for the key role played by Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Culture, Youth and Sport, Nela Riehl, Chair of the Committee on Culture and Education of the European Parliament, and Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou, Deputy Minister of Culture of Cyprus, on behalf of the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, in achieving the Joint Declaration.
“It is encouraging to experience such a high-level of support by prominent Members of the European Parliament for cultural heritage as a key vector of Europe’s shared identity and for boosting the sense of belonging to a wider European community among Europe’s citizens and communities, as well as a driver of sustainable social and economic development. The next MFF provides an opportunity to ensure the much-needed increase of the budget of the Culture strand of the future AgoraEU programme (which will cover various European initiatives – such as the European Heritage Awards, the European Heritage Label and the European Heritage Hub – and for cooperation projects across the wider field of culture, including cultural heritage). Europa Nostra also advocates the need to earmark a certain percentage (a minimum of 3%) of the NRPP which will be allocated for heritage-led regeneration in Europe’s cities and countryside,” stated Sneska Quaedvlieg-Mihailović, Secretary General of Europa Nostra and Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub.
As negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) continue, with a special focus on the proposed AgoraEU programme and the National and Regional Partnership Plans, Europa Nostra will continue advocating for stronger support for cultural heritage and its eligibility across EU funding instruments, including Horizon Europe, ESF+, ECF and Global Europe. Investing in Europe’s culture and cultural heritage means investing in Europe’s future.
On this occasion, the Secretary General of Europa Nostra also held meetings with MEP Sabine Verheyen, First Vice-President of the European Parliament, and MEP Marcos Ros, EP’s Co-Rapporteur on the European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) and Cohesion Fund.
