“Since the beginning of the invasion, it is estimated that more than 1,200 cultural heritage sites have been damaged or destroyed”. In view of the heavy toll taken on the cultural sector in Ukraine, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef visited Uzhhorod, in the west of the country, on Saturday 1 February.
During the cultural conference ‘Cooperation for Resilience’, organised by Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi, the European Commissioner stressed the role of culture as a component of national security and supported the implementation of joint measures to protect and preserve cultural heritage in Ukraine.
Discussions focused on the creation of the Ukrainian Heritage Fund and the development of joint mechanisms to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural goods.
The EU “has launched a new €5 million appeal aimed specifically at supporting Ukraine’s cultural and creative sectors. Ukrainian culture is European culture”, said Mr Micallef. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)