The European Union (EU) has formally adopted conclusions on cultural heritage as a strategic resource in its latest meeting in Brussels this week, recognising the fundamental importance of heritage and conservation to European policy and culture.
The Council of European Union Education, Youth Culture and Sport writes:
‘The Council… adopted conclusions on cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable Europe, underlining that cultural heritage, be it tangible, intangible or digital, is a strategic resource in which modern Europe – one of the richest regions of the world in terms of culture – should invest in order to make its social, economic and environmental development more sustainable. The conclusions call in particular for more resources to be invested in cultural heritage as a part of sustainable regional strategies developed both at national and European level…’
The President of the Council Minister Panagiotopoulos said that ‘Europe is not only a cradle of culture but also a bridge between cultures’. He also recalled that ‘the best answer to anti-European movements appearing in the context of the European elections is our common culture and heritage of which we can be proud and which unites us all.’
