Europa Nostra takes part in EEAS Europe Day event “Cultural dialogue in times of geopolitical tensions”

On 9 May 2026, Europa Nostra participated in the Europe Day event organised by the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels under the title “Cultural dialogue in times of geopolitical tensions”. Bringing together citizens, heritage stakeholders and international organisations, the event highlighted the essential role of culture and cultural heritage in fostering peace, dialogue, resilience and sustainable development in today’s increasingly fragile geopolitical context.

 

Raising awareness about the EU strategy for international cultural relations, the event welcomed the general public — with a strong presence of young people — to engage directly with organisations active in cultural cooperation, intercultural dialogue and heritage protection around the world.

Alongside Europa Nostra, participating organisations included the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), the Anna Lindh Foundation and the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF). Through an interactive “speed-dating” format, visitors had the opportunity to exchange with representatives of the organisations and learn about concrete projects and initiatives promoting cultural dialogue, protecting heritage at risk and supporting civil society engagement across regions and communities.

At the Europa Nostra table, discussions focused on the vital role citizens can play in safeguarding and promoting Europe’s shared cultural heritage. Visitors discovered how heritage protection is not only a cultural responsibility, but also a matter of democracy, identity, social cohesion and security.

Europa Nostra presented several of its flagship initiatives aimed at empowering citizens and communities to become active heritage custodians. Particular interest was shown in the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, the 7 Most Endangered Programme and the European Heritage Hub Small Grants Scheme.

The discussions reaffirmed that international cultural relations are not only about diplomacy between institutions, but also about building connections between people and communities.

By engaging directly with citizens — especially younger generations — the event successfully demonstrated that everyone can contribute to protecting and promoting cultural heritage, and that culture remains a key resource for peace, resilience and democratic values in Europe and beyond.