Europa Nostra participates in the Petra National Trust Heritage Awards Ceremony in Amman, Jordan

On 4 June, Europa Nostra’s Secretary General Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović addressed the Petra National Trust (PNT) Heritage Awards Ceremony 2026 in Amman, Jordan — an inspiring celebration of cultural heritage achievements across Jordan, Palestine, and Syria. Held in the magnificent Roman Odeon of Amman, the event gathered heritage professionals, diplomats, EU representatives, and civil society to recognise the outstanding work of individuals and organisations safeguarding the region’s shared heritage.

The delegation was led by Europa Nostra’s Secretary General Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović and Vice-President Jimmy Jamar, and included Jacek Purchla, Chair of the Jury of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026, and Andrew Potts, Heritage and Climate Action Advisor at Europa Nostra.

The ceremony was hosted by HRH Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust, Chair of INTO and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage. It was supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Jordan, reflecting the EU’s strong commitment to cultural heritage as a driver of peace, sustainability, and human rights. On behalf of the European Union, Kajsa Ollongren, newly appointed Secretary General of the European External Action Service, addressed the audience.

The event coincided with the launch of Heritage Adapts!, the first global campaign uniting the heritage sector behind a shared mission: at least 3,000 sites and practices taking locally led climate adaptation action by 2030. Spearheaded by a coalition led by Preserving Legacies, an initiative supported by the National Geographic Society, and its strategic partner the EU-funded European Heritage Hub (including Project Leader Europa Nostra and partner ICLEI Europe), among others, the campaign mobilises local stewards behind a collective pledge and provides the technical guidance, localised data access, and global connections to help them succeed.

Tribute to Laureates and Call for Regional Cooperation

The 2026 edition of the PNT Heritage Awards showcased some of the most inspiring heritage work emerging from across Jordan, Palestine, and Syria. Among the most moving were projects operating in the midst of active conflict. The Yalla Project was recognised for its Nablus Old Town Regeneration initiative, which has become a model for adaptive reuse, urban liveability and safety under wartime conditions in Palestine. Equally powerful was “Returnee 67” by Iyas Shahin and Wesam Al Asali (IWLab, supported by Casa Árabe), whose creative mapping of the ruined village of Ayn Fit in the Syrian Golan preserves the memories and dignity of displaced elders.

On behalf of Europa Nostra, Secretary General Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović delivered a heartfelt address celebrating the laureates and reaffirming Europa Nostra’s deep partnership with the Petra National Trust. Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović highlighted how the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards— run by Europa Nostra with the support of the European Union since 2002— inspired PNT to create a regional awards programme. She expressed hope that the PNT Awards will continue to expand across the Middle East, becoming a lighthouse for excellence and inspiration.

Connecting Amman to Nicosia: Advancing the Mare Nostrum Vision

The ceremony in Amman came just one week after the European Cultural Heritage Summit 2026 in Nicosia, held under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan was as guest of honour at the Summit, where she delivered powerful keynotes on the role of cultural heritage in peacebuilding, sustainability, climate action, and human rights both during the European Heritage Awards Ceremony and the European Heritage Policy Agora “Mare Nostrum: Championing Environmental Sustainability through Heritage”.

Sneška drew a direct line between the two events, noting that the themes championed in Nicosia — heritage as a bridge between cultures, a force for environmental stewardship, and a foundation for peace — resonated strongly in Amman.

In her speech, she made a clear and forward-looking pledge: “Europa Nostra makes a pledge to work closely with the Petra National Trust and our many partners, to jointly promote an ambitious MARE NOSTRUM programme in support of our shared heritage and its many caretakers.”

She emphasised that such an initiative is urgently needed to bring cultural depth and human meaning to the European Union Pact for the Mediterranean, in which Jordan plays a strategic and constructive role.

Earlier in the week the Europa Nostra delegation attended the opening of the photo exhibition “Portraits of Women – Beyond the Stones” in Amman celebrating the vital role of ten remarkable women from Jordan and the region who safeguard cultural heritage. Organised by the ALIPH Foundation and the Petra National Trust (PNT), this captivating outdoor showcase highlights frontline professionals and volunteers. Europa Nostra and ALIPH jointly presented a special edition of the exhibit in Nicosia during the Summit, spotlighting eight women at the forefront of protecting heritage from Cyprus, Greenland, Italy, Malta, Ukraine, Iraq, and Yemen.

Honouring the Leadership of HRH Princess Dana Firas

Europa Nostra also celebrated the exceptional leadership of HRH Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust, Chair of INTO and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage. Her vision and commitment were central both to the success of the PNT Heritage Awards and to the discussions in Nicosia. Her ability to connect local heritage stewardship with global policy conversations continues to inspire heritage actors across the Mediterranean.

Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović presented HRH Princess Dana Firas with a gift from Europa Nostra: the CD-book MARE NOSTRUM Orient-Occident: Dialogues (Montserrat Figueras, Lior Emaleh, Hespèrion XXI, Jordi Savall) devoted to Mediterranean civilisation, which invites readers/listeners to re-live and understand the key moments in our historical memory, thanks to the emotion and beauty of music, and in light of the reflections and commentaries of historians, philosophers, writers and poets.

A Shared Path Forward

The Europa Nostra delegation left Amman deeply inspired by the laureates,  the Petra National Trust, and the strong EU–Jordan partnership supporting this work. The ceremony reaffirmed that cultural heritage is not only a treasure of the past but a strategic resource for a more peaceful, sustainable, and inclusive future.

Europa Nostra looks forward to working hand-in-hand with PNT, HRH Princess Dana Firas, the EU, and partners across the region to advance the Mare Nostrum vision and to support the many caretakers who safeguard our shared heritage.