Advocacy
As the European Voice of Civil Society committed to Cultural Heritage, Europa Nostra acts as a relay between citizens and the EU institutions, carrying out the crucial tasks of raising awareness on the value of cultural heritage for Europe, advocating to mainstream heritage into EU policies and secure adequate funding, and actively contributing to the EU policy debate and policy-making process.
Europa Nostra’s commitment to strengthening the cultural heritage driven movement in Europe has been further reinforced by its appointment as Project Leader to implement the European Heritage Hub. This EU-funded initiative brings together a consortium of 28 heritage actors and initiatives across Europe to support the green, digital and social transformation of our society. This project follows in the footsteps of the EU-funded network projects run by Europa Nostra, including the European Cultural Heritage Agora and the Europa Nostra Heritage Agora.
Europa Nostra applauds the Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe”, signed today by @vonderleyen, President of the European Commission, @RobertaMetsola, President of the European Parliament, and @Christodulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus. pic.twitter.com/431Tztp0yU
— Europa Nostra (@europanostra) June 18, 2026
At times when democracy is under threat, finding unity through our shared values, cultural heritage and cultural diversity is more important than ever. As recognised in the Culture Compass for Europe, culture and cultural heritage are not only drivers of competitiveness and innovation, but also essential pillars of democratic resilience, social cohesion and Europe’s strategic autonomy. This vision is further reinforced by the Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe”, which calls for culture to be recognised as a strategic investment in the European project and adequately supported in the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034. In this context, protecting and promoting Europe’s shared cultural heritage is not merely a cultural responsibility; it is a democratic imperative that strengthens our common identity, solidarity and capacity to respond to present and future challenges.
Advocacy actions through Europa Nostra
Dialogue and partnerships are at the core of Europa Nostra’s work. The organisation has coordinated the European Heritage Alliance since 2011, an informal platform of some 50 European and international networks active in the wider field of heritage, which is now operating under the umbrella of the European Heritage Hub. Europa Nostra is also a Member of the European Commission’s Expert group on cultural heritage, through which it raises awareness on the important contribution of cultural heritage to all key priorities of the European Union – from sustainable development and climate action to the digital transformation, social cohesion, skills and employment.
Europa Nostra’s collaboration and cooperation with institutional partners is a core element of its work. Through a long standing relationship with the EU institutions and the Council of Europe, Europa Nostra advocates for an integrated approach to cultural heritage and continues to expand its partnership with other entities.
Europa Nostra also facilitates cooperation and coordination of cultural heritage expertise on a global scale to protect endangered heritage, in particular through regular dialogue and cooperation with international organisations, both intergovernmental, such as UNESCO and ICCROM, and non-governmental, such as ICOMOS, ICOM and the World Monuments Fund.
As one of the most established and representative heritage networks in Europe, covering over 40 countries, Europa Nostra is committed to staying at the forefront of existing and emerging challenges, policies and practices across the continent, and to leading the mobilisation of the wider heritage world to address them.
A Cultural Deal for Europe
Europa Nostra is a leading partner in the Cultural Deal for Europe campaign, calling for culture and cultural heritage to become a central pillar of the European project. Together with our partners, the European Cultural Foundation and Culture Action Europe, we advocate for stronger recognition of culture across all European policies, a well-funded future for AgoraEU* (Creative Europe strand), and increased investment in culture and heritage within the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
*The AgoraEU programme is the European Commission’s proposal for the MFF 2028–2034. It is intended to replace and merge the Creative Europe and Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programmes into a single framework supporting culture, media, democracy and European values.
Shaping the Culture Compass for Europe
Following the publication of the Culture Compass for Europe (November 2025), Europa Nostra continues to advocate for its effective implementation. We work with European institutions and our extensive network of partners to ensure that the Compass translates into concrete policies, legislation, programming and funding opportunities that strengthen Europe’s cultural and heritage ecosystem.
Protecting Europe’s Heritage at Risk
Protecting endangered cultural heritage has been at the heart of Europa Nostra’s mission for decades. Through initiatives such as the 7 Most Endangered Programme and our wider advocacy work, we raise awareness of threatened heritage sites, mobilise expertise and promote sustainable solutions that contribute to local regeneration, resilience and community wellbeing.
Standing with Ukraine
The war of Russia against Ukraine has presented new and profound challenges for Europe. Europa Nostra strongly condemns this unlawful invasion and has been providing continuous support to heritage professionals in Ukraine, while advocating for the protection of the country’s rich cultural heritage as an integral part of its identity, resilience and recovery.
The Heritage Solidarity Fellowship for Ukraine launched in May 2022 by Europa Nostra and Global Heritage Fund, in partnership with ALIPH and with the collaboration of the Heritage Emergency Response Initiative (HERI). A second call was launched in April 2023.
Building on this commitment, the Europa Nostra Heritage Hub in Kyiv is being developed by the Ukrainian Fulbright Circle and with support from the European Heritage Hub, creating a platform for cooperation, knowledge exchange and capacity building. Developed in close partnership with Ukrainian stakeholders, the Kyiv Hub strengthens collaboration between Ukrainian and European heritage professionals, supports the safeguarding and recovery of cultural heritage, and reinforces the role of heritage in Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction and European integration.
In 2026, Europa Nostra further strengthened its commitment by joining the Board of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Foundation (UCHF), an international multi-donor platform dedicated to safeguarding and restoring Ukraine’s cultural heritage. Through this role, Europa Nostra contributes to mobilising international expertise, fostering partnerships and ensuring that cultural heritage remains at the heart of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Heritage Beyond Europe’s Borders
Europa Nostra promotes cultural heritage as a powerful instrument for international cooperation, international cultural relations, diplomacy and dialogue. We advocate for the recognition of cultural heritage as a strategic resource for peacebuilding, sustainable development, democratic resilience and mutual understanding between peoples.
At the European level, Europa Nostra works to ensure that cultural heritage is firmly embedded within the European Union’s external action and international partnerships. In line with the EU’s approach to International Cultural Relations, we contribute to key policy frameworks by working with partners across the Mediterranean, supporting the objectives of The Pact for the Mediterranean; the Western Balkans, in the context of the EU’s Enlargement Policy; Ukraine, where we advocate for the integration of cultural heritage into recovery and reconstruction efforts under the Ukraine Facility (2024–2027); and Moldova, through cooperation aligned with the Eastern Partnership and its European integration pathway. We also engage with partners in other neighbouring regions to strengthen cooperation, foster people-to-people exchanges, and support the protection, recovery and sustainable management of shared cultural heritage.
As the European Union advances its enlargement policy, Europa Nostra advocates for cultural heritage to play a stronger role in the accession process. Protecting and promoting Europe’s shared cultural heritage contributes to democratic reforms, the rule of law, community participation and sustainable local development, while reinforcing a shared sense of belonging to the European project.
Through our role as Project Leader of the European Heritage Hub, our work in support of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, and our growing engagement across the Mediterranean, we help strengthen cooperation between civil society, public authorities and heritage professionals. This work is particularly illustrated with the Small Grants Scheme launched by the European Heritage Hub and supported by the ALIPH Foundation, which provides funding for civil society-led heritage projects in EU candidate and neighbouring countries in the Western Balkans, the Caucasus, Ukraine and Moldova.
At the global level, Europa Nostra actively contributes to international policy debates and partnerships that advance culture as a driver of sustainable development. We have actively participated in the UNESCO World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development (MONDIACULT), contributing to discussions on the role of culture and cultural heritage in addressing global challenges and supporting the implementation of its outcomes. Our work is aligned with the objectives of MONDIACULT, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other multilateral initiatives that recognise culture as a catalyst for inclusive, resilient and peaceful societies.
Investing in Research and Innovation for Heritage
Innovation is essential to the future of cultural heritage. Europa Nostra advocates for strong support for heritage research and innovation within European programmes, including Horizon Europe and future EU funding instruments such as the Competitiveness Fund. We work to ensure that cultural heritage contributes to Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and capacity to address emerging challenges.
