Europa Nostra issues statement on the United States’ withdrawal from ICCROM

Europa Nostra Statement (PDF)

This week, President Trump has signed a presidential memorandum directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations and treaties, including the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM).

 

The following statement is from Hermann Parzinger*, Executive President of Europa Nostra, the European Voice of Civil Society committed to Cultural Heritage:

“Europa Nostra expresses deep regret at the White House’s decision to withdraw the United States from the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), as well as from other international bodies dedicated to culture, heritage, nature, and the environment — including the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This sweeping retreat from multilateral cooperation of a major global player seems to signal a troubling misunderstanding of the essential role that culture and heritage play in fostering peace, mutual respect, resilience, innovation, and shared prosperity across the globe.

This move follows the deplorable withdrawal of the United States from UNESCO last July. Although the U.S. remains a party to the World Heritage Convention, stepping back from UNESCO — which administers the Convention — weakens its implementation. Exiting ICCROM and IUCN, two of the Convention’s three scientific advisory bodies, further undermines global efforts to safeguard World Heritage, both cultural and natural.

ICCROM, headquartered in Rome, is a vital intergovernmental institution advancing cultural heritage conservation worldwide through research, training, technical assistance, and public awareness. The U.S., historically ICCROM’s largest funder, leaves behind a significant gap.

At a moment when the European Union’s Cultural Compass for Europe underscores Europe’s essential commitment to champion multilateralism through culture (both arts and heritage), we call on the EU to step forward and reinforce organisations like ICCROM now placed at risk by the U.S. withdrawal.

European heritage professionals have long benefited from collaboration with U.S. colleagues — and the reverse is equally true. To give one example, Europa Nostra and the European Heritage Hub are proud to serve as Leadership Partners in the global climate change‑related Heritage Adapts! Campaign, led by the Preserving Legacies project with support from the U.S.‑based National Geographic Society.

Europa Nostra stands firmly with U.S. colleagues who remain committed to our shared mission. Together, we will continue to advance the environmental, social, educational, and inspirational benefits that cultural heritage brings to our common Terra Nostra.”

* Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger is Executive President of Europa Nostra. He has served for 17 years as President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. He has been actively engaged in cultural and scientific bodies across Europe and internationally, including in his functions as a member of U.S. organisations such as the American Philosophical Society, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and American Institute of Archeology.