WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Funding for the restoration and enhancement of the Colle del Duomo in Viterbo.
Date: 2003-05-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, Latium, cultural cooperation, cultural heritage, heritage protection, religious institution

C 11 E/224

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

(2004/C 11 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1744/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 May 2003)

Subject: Funding for the restoration and enhancement of the Colle del Duomo in Viterbo

The diocese of Viterbo, which is twinned with Avignon in France, is sponsoring a project involving the
restoration and enhancement of the entire historic centre of what constitutes one of Lazio’s major cities, in
particular the Colle del Duomo historical and religious complex comprising the cathedral, the popes’
palace, the bishop’s palace, the papal gardens and orchards and an area containing a wealth of mediaeval
and Etruscan remains of immense historical and cultural value. However, the entire area constantly
requires a significant amount of maintenance and restoration work.

The above-mentioned project (known as ‘Castrum S. Laurentii’) involves not only preservation work but
also the establishment of a study centre devoted to the arts and the sacred works to be found in the area.

It is important, therefore, that this entire cultural and architectural heritage (which is the only one of its
kind) should be properly protected, in view of the fact that the enhancement and the dissemination of art
and culture are Culture 2000 priorities and that, in particular, the major area of activity in 2004 will be
the enhancement of the archaeological and architectural heritage and of cultural sites and landscapes.

In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

1. Under what programmes or other measures may initiatives of this type be financed in connection with

Culture 2000?

2. Can the above-mentioned cultural heritage be made one of the priorities for 2004?

3. Have similar projects already been submitted in other EU countries?

4.

Is the Commission itself able to sponsor such an initiative?

Joint answer
to Written questions E-1743/03 and E-1744/03
given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2003)

The Commission may support

initiatives in the cultural sector only under the Culture 2000
1.
programme and in accordance with its selection criteria. This programme is the EU’s sole financing and
programming instrument for cultural cooperation.

The programme is designed to support projects which are jointly run and financed by at least three
operators from a minimum of three participating countries.

The Honourable Member can find further information concerning calls for proposals and the annual
priorities of the Culture 2000 programme on the following website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/culture/eac/
c2000condition_en.html.

2.

The Commission is not aware of the submission of any projects of this type by Member States.

3.
The Commission cannot comment on a project’s eligibility for financial assistance or sponsorship
unless an application has been submitted to the appropriate department in accordance with the terms and
conditions in force.