Europe and heritage: a challenge

In Europe, the preservation and management of our cultural heritage is organised at national or at regional level. In many cases this legislation is inspired by international treaties and recommendations concluded by international organisations such as Unesco and the Council of Europe. However, both movable and immovable heritage often undergo the indirect influence of various EU legislation concluded by other policy areas. Think of, for example, legislation dealing with environmental issues, labour affairs, energy efficiency or building products.

The main challenge is to take the specific interests of cultural heritage into account in this legislation. The conference 'Europe and heritage: a challenge. Towards a European heritage strategy' wants to make European policy makers aware of cultural heritage and the way in which it is very closely related to other policy areas. It wants to encourage all parties involved to cooperate on a European cultural heritage strategy by means of a declaration of intention.

Practical information:

The conference is being organised by the Flemish Government Department of Town and Country Planning, Housing Policy and Immovable Heritage in close collaboration with all the Belgian regions and communities competent for cultural heritage. Also, there have been consultations with the Council of Europe, heritage civil society, the European Commission, a number of Members of European Parliament and academics.

Thursday 9 December 2010, Site Oud Sint-Jan, Zonnekemeers, 8000 Brugge

Conference website