During the debate on culture, heritage and the crisis on Monday 29 September at Mondialcult - UNESCO’s world conference (see EUROPE 13719/22) on cultural policies and sustainable development - the European Commissioner for Culture, Glenn Micallef, pointed out that climate change and other man-made threats were making heritage “increasingly fragile”.
He argued that culture could be seen “as a tool for resilience”, using examples from the European Commission’s recent experience.
Glenn Micallef cited the pandemic and the war in Ukraine as a reminder that culture plays a major role in times of crisis.
More than €50 million has been allocated by the EU to Ukraine’s cultural sector, including €12 million specifically for heritage, with support for more than 500 damaged sites and projects involving displaced people in cultural life.
The Commissioner also referred to international cooperation, with an initiative launched in Rome that has brought together 22 Member States and the Commission around 65 projects relating to emergency protection, digitalisation and training.
Preparedness was also mentioned, with training for culture professionals, so that they are able to act before crises arise.
“When we protect cultural heritage, we protect memories, communities and individuals. We are laying the foundations for a resilient, peaceful and sustainable future”, concluded Commissioner Micallef. (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)