Recommendations from the European Commission-led expert group on the safeguarding of cultural heritage in Ukraine.
Date: 2024-11-15
Institutions: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture
Subjects: EU financing, Ukraine, cultural cooperation, cultural heritage, cultural identity, cultural tourism, data collection, heritage protection, risk management

Recommendations
from the European Commission-led  

     expert group on

the safeguarding  
 of cultural heritage  
  in Ukraine

Culture

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
This document should not be considered as representative of the European Commission’s official position.

Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2024

© European Union, 2024

The reuse policy of European Commission documents is implemented by Commission Decision 2011/833/EU of 12 December 2011 on the 
reuse of Commission documents (OJ L 330, 14.12.2011, p. 39). Unless otherwise noted, the reuse of this document is authorised under a 
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This means that reuse is 
allowed provided appropriate credit is given and any changes are indicated.

For any use or reproduction of elements that are not owned by the European Union, permission may need to be sought directly from the 
respective rightholders.

CREDITS

Images: 

The European Union does not own the copyright in relation to the following elements: 
Cover picture: “Fountain with a sculpture of Archangel Michael in the park Volodymyr Hill in Kyiv, Ukraine” (source: Adobe Stock). 
Picture on page 3: “Monument de l’indépendance et le Drapeau ukrainien à Kiev. Ukraine” (source: iStock, 2018) 
Picture on page 7: “interior of the hagia sophia country” (source: Adobe Stock).  
Picture on page 21: “Two Ukrainian women in traditional ethnic clothing and floral red wreath on background of decorated hut. Ukrainian 
national embroidered dress call vyshyvanka. Pray for Ukraine” (source: Adobe Stock). 
Picture on page 5: “Ukraine heritage during wartime” (source: ALIPH Foundation, Thomas Raguet, 2023). 
Pictures on pages 9 and 10: “Craftsmen in a workshop in Ostvytsia Park in Rivne” (source: EU4Culture project, Anna Borodii, 2024). 
Picture on pages 12: “Manor of 18-19 centuries in Trostianets city of Sumy Oblast, Ukraine, after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This 
part of the building houses Trostianets Museum of Local Lore.” (source: https://mkip.gov.ua/news/7056.html, 2022). 
Picture on page 13: “Protection of monument to Petro Sahaidachny in Kyiv during Russian invasion of Ukraine.” (source: https://kyivcity.gov.ua/
photo/stolichni_vizitivki_pid_zakhistom_yak_u_kiyevi_prodovzhuyut_ukriplyuvati_vidomi_pamyatniki_foto__kmda_oleksiy_samsonov/, 2022). 
Picture on page 14: “Kyiv National Art Gallery during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The paintings are taken off the walls and moved 
to shelters.” (source: https://kyivcity.gov.ua/photo/muze/, 2022). 
Pictures on pages 15, 16 and 17 (two pictures): “ICCROM Training for Cultural Heritage Professionals in Ukraine” (source: ICCROM/ACURE, 
Bohdan Poshyvailo, 2022-2024). 
Picture on page 18: “The residential buildings on Preobrazhenska street in Odesa after Russian rocket strike to UNESCO World Heritage Site” 
(source: Andrii Tkalych, Fedir Boitsov, Pixelated Realities NPO, 2024).

Print 
PDF 

ISBN 978-92-68-18668-8 
ISBN 978-92-68-18666-4 

doi:10.2766/632426 
doi:10.2766/704296 

NC-02-24-704-EN-C 
NC-02-24-704-EN-N

Recommendations
from the European Commission-led  
expert group on
the safeguarding  
of cultural heritage  
in Ukraine

Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture

Table of contents

Introduction ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3

Key messages ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4

Overarching principles �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7

PRIORITY AREA 1 – Recognising the value of cultural heritage ���������������������������9

PRIORITY AREA 2 – Risk management and preparedness ������������������������������������12

PRIORITY AREA 3 – Documentation, monitoring and data collection �������������15

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery of cultural heritage ���������������������������������������������������18

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents �����������������23

Annex 2 – Composition of the expert group ���������������������������������������������������������������30

Introduction

3

Introduction

As envisaged in the 2023–2026 EU work plan for culture (1), 
the European Commission set up the Expert Group on the 
Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Ukraine (2)� The objectives of 
the group were the following:

 ■ to  bring  about  exchanges  of  experience  and  good  practice  in  the  field  of 
damage  prevention,  preparedness  and  recovery  of  cultural  heritage  after 
man-made or natural disasters that may be relevant to Ukraine;

 ■ to  advise  and  assist  the  Commission  in  compiling  a  set  of  lessons  learnt 
and  recommendations  from  recovery  processes  relevant  to  the  prevention, 
preparedness and recovery of cultural heritage in Ukraine�

The group was officially launched during its first meeting on 12 June 2023 and 
is comprised of 26 experts (six of whom are of Ukrainian nationality) who were 
selected through a competitive call� The full list of experts is available in Annex 2�

These recommendations are addressed to 
the following stakeholders.

■  The European Commission.
■  The  Ukrainian  government,  in  particular 
the  Ministries  of  Culture  and  Strategic 
Communications,  Social  Policy,  Defence, 
Justice,  Education  and  Science,  Finance, 
Economy, 
Internal 
Infrastructure,  and 
Affairs,  along  with  the  Security  Service  of 
Ukraine  and  the  State  Emergency  Service 
of Ukraine.

■  The  regional  and 

local  authorities 
of  Ukraine  (regional  (oblasts),  municipal 
(hromadas)  and  city  administrations), 
particularly  those  related  to  the  cultural 
heritage sector.

■  Civil  society,  including  academia  and 
professional  associations  relevant  to  the 
field of cultural heritage and civil protection 
in Ukraine.

These recommendations aim to inform the 
following processes.

■  EU  level.  The  implementation  of  the 
Ukraine  plan (3),  especially  with  regard  to 
the  recovery,  reconstruction,  management 
and  protection  of  cultural  heritage  during 
the  ongoing  war  and  during  the  post-war 
recovery period.

■  National level. The Ukraine recovery plan 
and  cultural  heritage  and  civil  protection 
policies 
legislation). 
The recommendations are also relevant to 
Ukraine’s path towards EU accession.

(including 

relevant 

■  Regional  and  local  level.  Regional  and 
local  master  plans,  development  and 
recovery plans and other relevant plans.

■  International 

support 

towards 
recovery.  The  recommendations  are  also 
meant  to  be  useful  to  the  coordination 
mechanism and the implementation of the 
measures, as defined within the Action Plan 
for Culture in Ukraine (4) that was developed 
by the United Nations Educational, Scientific 
and  Cultural  Organization  (UNESCO)  and 
Ukraine and endorsed at the ‘International 
Conference  Towards  the  Recovery  of  the 
Culture  Sector  of  Ukraine’  (6  and  7 June 
2024, Vilnius, Lithuania).

■  Scope. The proposed recommendations are 
ambitious  in  scope.  The  ambitiousness  of 
the recommendations is intentional, aiming 
to set a high-standard approach necessary 
for  the  comprehensive  protection  and 
recovery  of  heritage  in  Ukraine’s  war-torn 
areas,  ensuring  these  measures  address 
the  full  scope  of  threats  and  challenges 
effectively.

(1) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022G1207(01).
(2)  Technically, this group reports to the Commission Expert Group on Cultural Heritage, of which it is a subgroup.
(3) https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d122882f-599b-4158-8a6b-

583f5cfdfb77_en?filename=Ukraine-facility-march2024.pdf.

(4) https://conference.unesco.lt/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Action-plan-for-Ukraine_6-factsheets_5-June-2024.pdf. 

4

Key messages

Key messages

Culture is a key factor for a participative and people-
centred  approach  and  should  be  prioritised  for  the 
recovery  of  post-war  society�  To  achieve  this,  it  is 
important  to  promptly  safeguard  cultural  heritage, 
given  the  current  emergency  situation  in  Ukraine, 
through  integrated  and  cross-sectoral  cooperation 
and multilevel policymaking at the local, national and 
international levels�

‘Recovery  and  reconstruction  should  enable  people 
to  connect  to  their  heritage,  identity  and  history’ 

(UNESCO’s  Warsaw  Recommendation  on  Recovery 
and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage, 2018)�

Rights-based approaches, gender, age, disability and 
diverse  cultural  perspectives  should  be  integrated 
into all policies and practices�

Cultural  heritage  is  an  asset  that  reaches  beyond 
signatory  monuments  and  sites  and  that  provides 
resources  for  (re)construction,  social  life,  continuity, 
identity and meaning-making�

1. Ukrainian cultural heritage. This is a key 
resource  for  the  recovery  and  sustainable 
development  of  Ukraine.  Rebuilding  Ukraine 
should  resonate  with  its  people,  emphasising 
their  sense  of  identity  and  meaning-making 
and  reflecting  their  cultural  and  social  values 
for a society that is inclusive and enduring.

Starting  with  a  comprehensive  understanding 
of  the  common  Ukrainian  cultural  heritage 
(tangible  and  intangible)  is  essential  for  the 
rebuilding  and  modernising  efforts.  This  also 
contributes  to  enhancing  the  processes  of 
peacebuilding, trauma healing and transitional 
and  social  justice.  It  is  well  recognised  that 
cultural  heritage  has  the  power  to  facilitate 
the return of people to Ukraine and revitalise 
local  communities,  but  only  if  everyone  is 
involved in the process. It is a way to kick-start 
communities  and  economies,  empowering 
locals to take charge of their own future.

2. Physical  damage.  As  of  21  October, 
according  to  UNESCO,   457  cultural  sites  in 
Ukraine had been damaged since 24 February 
2022.  These  include  143  religious  sites,  231 
buildings  of  historical  and/or  artistic  interest, 
32  museums,  33  monuments,  17  libraries,  1 
archive (5).

The destruction of these sites threatens local, 
regional  and  national  heritage.  It  undermines 
Ukrainian 
identity  and  historical  values. 
Immediate/early  assessment,  documentation 

and  recovery  efforts  are  essential  to  mitigate 
the impact of this damage on Ukraine’s cultural 
heritage. Physical damage to cultural heritage 
and  institutions  has  far-reaching  impacts 
on  the  livelihood  of  cultural  professionals 
and  cultural  bearers  in  the  creative  sector� 
The  war  continues  to  have  a  significantly 
negative  impact  on  the  diversity  and  richness 
of culture. It has further impeded the practice 
and  transmission  of  living  heritage,  reducing 
access  to  culture  and  interfering  with  the 
enjoyment of cultural rights, especially among 
more vulnerable communities.

is 

threatened  by 

Cultural  heritage 
the 
destruction  of  the  institutional  framework  at 
the social and state levels, forced migration and 
the weakening of communities. Urgent action 
is  needed  to  preserve  and  restore  cultural 
heritage,  safeguarding  its  significance  for 
future  generations,  fostering  community 
resilience  and  reinforcing  Ukraine’s  cultural 
identity�

amounting 

3. Estimated  cost  of  the  recovery.  The 
culture  and  tourism  sector  has  registered 
to  USD 3.5 billion, 
damage 
according to the ‘Ukraine: Third rapid damage 
and  needs  assessment’ (6).  This  exercise  was 
conducted  by  the  World  Bank,  the  European 
Commission  and  the  United  Nations,  together 
with  the  Ukrainian  government,  and  covers 
the  period  from  February  2022  to  December 
2023. The culture and tourism sector has also 

(5)  According  to  the  Ukrainian  government,  as  of  16 October  2024,  1 169  cultural  heritage  sites  have  been 
damaged  or  completely  destroyed.  Additionally,  2 093  cultural  institutions  have  been  affected,  361  of  which 
were  completely  destroyed  (https://mcsc.gov.ua/en/news/the-congress-of-local-and-regional-authorities-of-the-
council-of-europe-adopted-a-declaration-on-the-destruction-of-cultural-heritage-in-ukraine/).

(6) https://ukraine.un.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/UA%20RDNA3%20report%20EN.pdf.

Key messages

5

accumulated  losses  of  USD 19.6 billion.  It  is 
estimated  that  nearly  USD 9 billion  will  be 
needed  over  the  next  10 years  to  enable 
the  culture  and  tourism  sector  to  recover. 
The section of the assessment on culture and 
tourism was coordinated by UNESCO.

Urgent  and  appropriate  investment  in  the 
culture  and  tourism  sector  is  imperative  to 
support and preserve Ukraine’s unique cultural 
heritage.  It  is  vital  to  allocate  resources 
to  rebuild  this  sector,  not  only  to  ensure 
economic recovery but also to safeguard the 
nation’s rich cultural legacy (7).

4. Quality  principles (8).  These  should  be 
complied  with  to  leverage  the  full  potential 
of  cultural  heritage  and  cultural  sites  and 
landscapes  while  planning  and  executing  any 
recovery  measures.  The  preservation  and 
recovery of cultural heritage should follow the 

inclusivity  and 

values of the ‘new European Bauhaus’ initiative: 
aesthetics, 
sustainability. 
The  use  of  new,  innovative  and  sustainable 
technologies will contribute to a higher-quality 
recovery.

Quality  encompasses  not  only  the  result 
but  also  the  process,  which  must  be 
involve  qualified 
open,  democratic  and 
professionals� 
processes 
and  results  would  create  grounds  for  the 
competitiveness of Ukrainian professionals and 
the growth of the market.

High-quality 

Heritage  protection  and  regeneration  should 
interpretation  of 
ensure  attentive  cultural 
heritage and respect for their cultural contents 
and  contexts.  It  should  empower  regional 
and local communities and work as a tool for 
building  a  new,  democratic  and  sustainable 
Ukraine.

(7) https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/02/15/updated-ukraine-recovery-and-reconstruction-

needs-assessment-released.

(8) https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2436/1/EUQS_revised-2020_EN_ebook.pdf.

6

Key messages

Regeneration, life extension and compatible 
reuse  of  cultural  heritage  should  embrace 
all the layers of history and integrate them 
into the multicultural identity of Ukraine as 
the basis for resilience in wartime and long-
lasting peace�

These  developments  should  be  planned 
with  respect  for  the  diversity  of  tangible  and 
intangible  heritage,  preserving  and  enhancing 
its  diverse  values  and  encompassing  the 
economic,  cultural,  social  and  environmental 
dimensions.  This  requires  investing  in  the 
development  of  skills  and  competences 
to  ensure 
there  are  qualified  heritage 
professionals  in  the  field  and  strengthening 
the  capacity  of  civil-society  organisations  to 
ensure they continue their activities. Synergies 
between 
traditional  knowledge  and 
techniques,  on  the  one  hand,  and  these  new 
developments,  on  the  other  hand,  should  be 
amplified. They have potential in relation to the 
development  of  sustainable  local  economies, 
in  communities’  livelihoods  and  in  nurturing 
local  identity.  These  are  all  essential  aspects 
for Ukrainian craftspeople.

local 

5. National  legislation  and  institutional 
framework.  It  is  crucial  for  the  Ukrainian 
authorities to review and update national and 
institutional frameworks for heritage protection 
to  align  with  EU  and  international  principles 
and  standards,  ensuring  robust  and  effective 
safeguarding and recovery of cultural heritage 
amid ongoing challenges (9).

6. Digital  investment.  Investing  in  digital 
long-term 
capacity 

is  essential  for 

the 

preservation  and  documentation  of  Ukraine’s 
cultural  heritage.  Strengthening  digital 
infrastructure  and  human  capital  will  drive 
innovation,  job  creation  and  the  return  of 
professionals  over  time�  Harmonising  and 
standardising data will enhance interoperability 
and accessibility.

7. Skills  and  competences.  The  definition 
and  establishment  of  quality  requirements 
and standards both for education and training 
provision  (skills)  and  for  the  recognition  of 
professional  qualifications 
(competences) 
should  be  aligned  with  EU  standards  and 
frameworks and international best practices� 
The  process  should  involve  and  foster  the 
exchange of knowledge, expertise and practices 
between  Ukraine,  the  EU  and  international 
experts. The schemes of recognition, validation 
and  certification  should  be 
transparent, 
proportional and 
inclusive, 
efficient,  thus  strengthening  the  involvement 
of  Ukrainian  professionals  from  all  relevant 
fields.  The  long-term  goal  is  to  consolidate 
and  enhance  Ukraine’s  professional  capacity 
and competence in heritage safeguarding and 
recovery strategies.

collaborative, 

8. Reconstruction  and  recovery  in  the 
field of culture. The process of reconstruction 
will  require  the  mobilisation  of  large-scale 
resources,  coordination  and  comprehensive 
international  documents, 
planning.  Existing 
such  as  the  Warsaw  Recommendation  on 
Recovery  and  Reconstruction  of  Cultural 
Heritage (10),  should  guide 
the  process, 
prioritising community needs.

(9)  The systems for professional recognition can be aligned with the principles set out by Directive 2005/36/EC and 
Directive (EU) 2018/958, which recognise professional qualifications for the access and pursuit of a profession, in 
particular when justified by public interest objectives such as the safeguarding and conservation of the national 
historic and artistic heritage and social and cultural policies.

(10) https://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1826.

Overarching principles

7

Overarching principles

1. Definitions.  ‘Cultural  heritage  is  a  group 
of  resources  inherited  from  the  past  which 
people  identify,  independently  of  ownership, 
as  a  reflection  and  expression  of  their 
constantly evolving values, beliefs, knowledge 
and  traditions.  It  includes  all  aspects  of  the 
environment  resulting  from  the  interaction 
between  people  and  places  through  time’ 
(Council  of  Europe  Framework  Convention  on 
the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (the 
Faro Convention), 2005).

management  strategy,  policies  and  system 
should  be  developed  and  formally  include 
cultural heritage, in line with guiding principle 
(c)  of  the  UN  Sendai  Framework  of  Disaster 
Risk  Reduction  2015–2030:  ‘managing  the 
risk of disasters is aimed at protecting persons 
and  their  property,  health,  livelihoods  and 
productive  assets,  as  well  as  cultural  and 
environmental  assets,  while  promoting  and 
protecting all human rights, including the right 
to development’.

2. Inclusive  and  transparent  decision-
making. This should invite non-discriminatory 
participation,  paying  special  attention  to  the 
cultural bearers who have been affected by the 
ongoing  armed  conflict  or  those  who  are  the 
most vulnerable.

3. Comprehensive 
approaches. 

risk  management 
risk 

 The  national  disaster 

Emergency  and  risk  management  should 
adhere to the principle of ‘do no harm’ to prevent 
further  damage  and  promote  sustainable 
recovery.  A  multi-hazard,  participatory  and 
people-centred  approach  to  risk  management 
is  essential  to  protect  tangible  and  intangible 
cultural  heritage  from  the  effects  of  the 
ongoing  armed  conflict,  the  risk  of  disasters 
and associated slow and progressive risks.

c)  increase technical and vocational 
training opportunities/workshops 
to upskill and reskill the Ukrainian 
workforce in areas of demand for the 
ongoing efforts in the heritage sector;

d)  guarantee a transversal approach in 
education and training that is based 
on innovation and inclusion of the 
latest solutions, to efficiently address 
the current needs of the sector and its 
professionals.

8. Illicit  trafficking.  Any  efforts  pertaining 
to  the  safeguarding  of  cultural  heritage 
should consider the high ongoing risk of illicit 
trafficking  of  cultural  property  and  should,  to 
the  extent  possible,  contribute  to  preventing 
and halting the risk of looting and trafficking.

9. Monitoring  and  documentation.  This 
should  be  multi-temporal,  multilayered, 
interdisciplinary  and  purposeful (11).  Action 
for  monitoring  and  documenting  should 
be  implemented  at  all  stages,  consider  the 
heritage asset in its context and be conducted 
in an interdisciplinary manner, and the methods 
and types of data collected should be adjusted 
to  a  specific  need  (research,  judicial,  rights 
violations, etc.).

10. Recommended standard-setting docu-
ments  and  guidelines.  Annex 1  includes  a 
non-exhaustive list of key reference documents 
and  European  and  international  standards  on 
which  the  practice  of  safeguarding  cultural 
heritage  builds.  They  have  been  organised 
thematically by keywords to facilitate ease of 
consultation.

8

Overarching principles

decision-making. 

The 
4. Risk-based 
decision-making for cultural heritage in general 
must  be  risk  informed,  based  on  the  open 
exchange and dissemination of disaggregated 
data 
science-based 
information about natural and human-induced 
hazards  and  their  combined  outcomes.  This 
should  be  complemented  by  traditional  and 
community-held knowledge.

including  up-to-date 

decoupled 

5. Decision-making 
from 
external pressures. Measures to protect and 
recover  cultural  heritage  must  be  evidence 
based and guided by thorough, on-the-ground 
assessments and documentation, with a focus 
on long-term resilience. These measures must 
not be driven by external pressures like funding 
schedules. Sufficient time must be allocated to 
ensure due diligence and incorporate measures 
for  long-term  recovery  and  cultural  heritage 
protection.

‘do 

accessibility, 

6. Information 
no 
harm’  and  neutrality.  Available  information 
on  matters  pertaining  to  cultural  heritage 
promotes  critical  thinking  and  transparency, 
allowing  for  the  continuation  of  diverse 
narratives, and contributes to the fight against 
disinformation.  It  should  be  encouraged  for 
information  to  be  as  widely  accessible  and 
neutral as possible to actively counter conflict-
driven creations of one-sided narratives.

7. Education  and  training.  Ensure 
the 
empowerment  of  Ukrainian  professionals, 
volunteers  and  citizens  through  up-to-date 
capacity-building measures and the necessary 
improvement  and  modernisation  of  existing 
mechanisms.  Such  measures  should  be 
structured and aim to:

a)  guarantee qualified heritage pro-

fessionals in all specialised fields of 
heritage practice necessary for the 
long-term safeguarding and sustaina-
ble recovery of Ukraine;

b)  encourage the exchange of internation-
al–EU–national knowledge and exper-
tise with leading experts, acknowledg-
ing and recognising their qualifications 
to facilitate international cooperation 
and address immediate needs;

(11) Multi-temporal: prepared in a time of peace, consistent throughout the crisis situation and from first aid to the 
recovery phase, in order to assess the changing of the scenario over time; multilayered: considering the asset in 
its context of production, conservation and use, documentation and monitoring should be carried out at different 
scales (from macro to micro) on the basis of a pyramidal approach, for instance from satellite images to aerial 
documentation  to  terrestrial  documentation  (laser  scanning  systems)  to  photography.  Interdisciplinary  and 
purposeful: inventories and identifies values, lists priorities of safeguarding, tracks changes in location, identifies 
risks, documents damage, compiles needs at different stages and traces all types of intervention during the first 
aid to promote early recovery and for the purpose of evidence-based policies for crime prevention. It monitors 
the results of the measures and initiatives undertaken on cultural heritage with the participation of architects, 
restorers, archaeologists, art historians and urban planners.

PRIORITY AREA 1 – Recognising the value of cultural heritage

9

PRIORITY AREA 1 – 
Recognising the value 
of cultural heritage

1. Recommendations for immediate action

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

Ukraine  to  actively  counter  conflict-driven 
creations of one-sided narratives.

■  Support 

the 

creation,  upgrade  and 
sharing  of  safe  storage  spaces  and  other 
protective  measures  in  Ukraine,  both  for 
acute  emergencies  and  for  addressing  a 
potential  long-term  conflict,  along  with 
the  possible  creation  of  safe  havens  for 
moveable  heritage  within  institutions  in 
EU  Member  States  and  providing  for  safe 
transportation, if such provisions would be 
requested by Ukraine.

■  Propose existing or support the development 
of  appropriate  tools  for  documentation, 
data  control  and  management  (artificial 
intelligence  (AI)  tools,  Europeana  initiative 
instruments, etc.).

■  Promote the availability of reliable sources 
of  information  on  cultural  heritage  in 

 The expert group recommends 
that  the  European  Union  and 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do 
the following.

■  Include  cultural  heritage  protection  and 
recovery  as  one  of  the  tools  for  the 
regeneration  of  Ukraine  into  the  state’s 
recovery  strategies  (the  plan  for  recovery, 
reconstruction  and  modernisation  of 
Ukraine,  the  national  plan  of  recovery 
and  other  nationally  relevant  plans  and 
strategies,  including  the  ones  related  to 
health,  reintegration,  peacebuilding  and 
social cohesion).

 
10

PRIORITY AREA 1 – Recognising the value of cultural heritage

■  Include  heritage  impact  assessments  and 
quality  principles (12)  as  a  rehabilitation/
reconstruction funding criterion.

■  Include  communities  in  decision-making: 
enable  common  projects 
to  activate 
dialogue  between  communities,  experts 
and decision-makers (13). Translate relevant 
documents and guidelines.

the  EU 

■  In accordance with the indication provided 
by  the  EU  action  plan  against  trafficking 
in  cultural  goods (14),  provide  adequate 
capacity  building  for  national  border 
services,  customs  and  law  enforcement 
services  in  Ukraine,  countries  bordering 
Ukraine  and 
(including  mail 
services)  to  search,  identify  and  seize 
cultural  property  of  illegal  origin,  thereby 
addressing  illicit  trafficking.  Such  training 
protocols  should 
include  reference  to 
the  existing  available  tools,  including  the 
International  Council  of  Museums’  (ICOM) 
Red Lists, the International Criminal Police 
Organization’s (Interpol) Stolen Works of Art 
database and ID-Art mobile application and 
internationally recognised good practices.
■  Train law enforcement and military forces 
to  ensure  the  application  of  the  1954 

Convention  for  the  Protection  of  Cultural 
Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (the 
Hague  Convention)  and  its  two  protocols 
(1954, 1999).

■  Support  the  implementation  of  relevant 
international standard-setting instruments, 
including  the  treaties  and  conventions 
(administered  by 
ratified  by  Ukraine 
UNESCO and the Council of Europe), along 
with  the  European  Union’s  standards  in 
this  area,  and  enhance  Ukrainian  and  EU 
legislation  to  make  the  repatriation  of 
the  looted  and  illicitly  trafficked  cultural 
property more effective .

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Ensure 

that  policies,  strategies  and 
involve 
operational  plans  engage  and 
internally  displaced  people,  people  of 
relevant 
the  diaspora,  museums  and 
institutions 
interpretation  and 
recontextualisation  of  cultural  heritage. 
(National government only.)

the 

in 

(12) https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2436/1/EUQS_revised-2020_EN_ebook.pdf.
(13) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=199  and  https://openarchive.

icomos.org/id/eprint/2317/1/NC0319331ENN.en.pdf.

(14) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52022DC0800.

PRIORITY AREA 1 – Recognising the value of cultural heritage

11

■  Prepare strategies for the memorialisation 
of  recent  events,  keeping  in  mind  the 
survivors  and  the  affected  communities 
and considering the need to address them 
in the long term and in changing conditions. 
Respect  the  sites  of  conflicted  recent 
history,  including  the  sites  of  delicate, 
dark  and  dissonant  heritage.  (National 
government only.)

■  Establish  a  national  database  of  stolen 
cultural  property,  possibly  interoperable 
with the Interpol database, duly managed 
and  regularly  updated.  Such  a  database 
should  collect  verified  data  from  multiple 
sources  of 
law 
enforcement,  museums,  heritage  workers, 
private  owners  and  national  and  local 
authorities) and provide a centralised data 
hub  on  stolen  cultural  property.  (National 
government only.)

information 

(including 

■  Provide  for  the  creation  and  training  of 
military  and  civil-military  units  (‘Cultural 
Property  Protection  units’)  capable  of 
providing  support  for  the  identification, 
protection, safe storage and evacuation of 
cultural  heritage  and,  if  possible,  for  the 
return of displaced objects.

■  Maintain  and  disseminate  lists  of  cultural 
property subject to enhanced protection as 
per requirements in the Hague Convention 
and its protocols, in particular referring to 
the 25 cultural properties under enhanced 
protection by virtue of the Second Protocol 
to the Hague Convention.

■  Maintain  and  disseminate  lists (15)  for  the 
prevention  of  looting  and  illicit  traffic  of 
objects.

■  Improve  the  legal  basis  and  policymaking 
in the field of cultural heritage (addressing 
intangible 
gaps  such  as  reference  to 
heritage) 
transparency, 
involvement  of  all  stakeholders 
the 
and  the 
international 
recommendations.

incorporation  of 

ensuring 

by 

■  Strengthen  cooperation  between  public 
the 
authorities  and  organisations  at 
national, 
levels, 
regional  and 
relevance  for  addressing  heritage 
of 
processes.

local 

■  Encourage  and  support  non-governmental 
organisations  and 
local  communities’ 
initiatives  in  the  recognising,  advocating 
and caretaking of heritage at the national, 
local and community levels.

2. Recommendations for the long-term perspective

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Develop  curriculum,  culture,  arts  and 
history  textbooks  that  will  have  a  multi-
perspective  and  inclusive  nature  for  post-
war  Ukrainian  society,  to  be  used  in  the 
school  system  and  for  engaging  local 
communities.

■  Develop  university/vocational 

curricula 
to  train  experts  in  heritage  management, 
conservation  and  restoration  and  the 
necessary  fields  of  knowledge  to  expand 
the  number  of  professionals  and  prepare 
experts  for  management  and  practical 
planning,  addressing  various  needs  from 
landscapes to buildings to artefacts, etc.

■  Support  and  sustain  both  ongoing  efforts 
and  new  endeavours  for  memorialisation. 
Document  activities  addressing  the  war 
realised by the heritage sector to create a 
collection  of  good  practices  (for  memory 
and identity building and sharing with other 
nations  under  or  threatened  by  an  armed 
conflict).

■  Take  necessary  steps  to  ensure  the 
under-represented 
safeguarding 
of 
intangible  heritage  both  under 
the 
UNESCO 
lists  (international  assistance) 
and the national list (national assistance), 
including  the  recognition  and  assisting  of 
the bearers of cultural traditions in Ukraine 
and  displaced  communities;  train  cultural 
first  aiders  to  safeguard  the  different 
expressions of intangible cultural heritage.

(15) https://icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Emergency-Red-List-Ukraine-%E2%80%93-English.pdf.

12

PRIORITY AREA 2 – Risk management and preparedness

PRIORITY AREA 2 – Risk 
management and preparedness

1. Recommendations for immediate action

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

■  Support 

for 

dialogue 

inter-agency 
cooperation  and  coordination  on 
the 
ground, and sharing of existing knowledge 
and good practices.

■  Continue 

emergency 
supporting 
preparedness  and  response  measures  for 
the  protection  of  Ukrainian  heritage  as 
the  conflict  evolves,  including  reflections 
on  longer-term  strategies  for  heritage 
protection in a protracted conflict.

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Integrate the risk management strategy for 
cultural heritage into the national disaster 
risk  management  strategy  at  all  levels  of 

governance:  national,  regional  and  local 
(from municipalities to communities) .
■  Involve  communities  and  municipalities, 
as  governance  units,  to  facilitate  the 
inclusion of cultural heritage in the national 
emergency  preparedness  and  response 
system  from  the  very  start,  thereby 
fostering a bottom-up approach.

■  Create  and 

further  develop  systems 
for  gathering,  visualising  and  analysing 
damage  and  risk  data  for  heritage  that 
should  be  multi-temporal,  multilayered, 
interdisciplinary  and  purposeful,  and 
integrate existing initiatives.

■  Enhance 

emergency 
preparedness 
the  national  disaster  risk 
by  having 
management  agencies  create  ways  to 
share  important  disaster  risk  data  and 
access  to  early  warning  systems  with 
the  heritage  sector.  This  includes  the 
sharing of hazard or risk maps for floods, 

PRIORITY AREA 2 – Risk management and preparedness

13

fires  or  hurricanes.  National  disaster  risk 
management  agencies  should  promote 
the exchange of disaster risk management 
technologies, methodologies, expertise and 
practices with the cultural heritage sector.
■  Reference cultural heritage in disaster law 
(the  Code  of  Civil  Protection  of  Ukraine, 
among  other  legislation)  with  clear  roles 

and  responsibilities  defined  for  cultural 
heritage stakeholders and agencies.

■  Foster  joint  capacity  building  between 
cultural  heritage  stakeholders  (including 
in the military and civil protection spheres) 
to develop and operationalise coordination 
and  cooperation  in  the  risk  management 
strategy.

2. Recommendations for the long-term perspective

■  Incorporate  requirements  for  emergency 
response and first aid for cultural heritage 
into  broader  emergency  response  and 
urban  plans.  This 
includes  provisions 
for  temporary  storage  and  alternative 
evacuation or access routes.

■  Train  teams  of  cultural  heritage  first 
aiders  at  the  national,  regional  and  local 
levels.  The  teams  should  be  given  a  clear 
mandate  supported  by  updated  national 
policies,  standardised  methods,  protocols 
and procedures.

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Develop  and  activate 

risk 

reduction 
and  emergency  preparedness  plans  for 
cultural  heritage.  These  plans  should  be 
based  on  multi-hazard  and  multi-agency 
risk  assessments  for  all  types  of  cultural 
heritage and made available to the cultural 
institutions  on  a 
heritage  sector  and 
permanent basis by disaster management 
agencies.  These  plans  should  also  be 
connected  to  the  regional-  and  local-level 
risk reduction and emergency preparedness 
plans.

■  Develop  risk  management  plans  for  the 
most important cultural heritage sites and 
institutions.

■  Develop  a  system  to  assess,  monitor  and 
visualise multiple risks to cultural heritage, 
using the existing geographic-information-
system-based  maps  of  documented 
cultural  heritage  sites,  real-time  satellite 
imagery and weather data.

■  Include  cultural  heritage  in  the  existing 
early  warning  systems  of  the  country  to 
make the emergency response efficient.

■  Develop  a  secure 

information  sharing 
system  for  cultural  heritage  stakeholders 
at  the  national,  regional  and  local  levels 
to  protect  cultural  heritage  in  times  of 
emergency  and  to  enhance  inter-agency 
cooperation and coordination.

■  Develop  preventive  conservation  plans  for 
the  most  important  collections  to  prevent 
or  mitigate  damage  caused  by  military 
conflict.
■  Integrate 

looting, 
illegal 
illicit  trafficking,  and 
exportation  and 
identify secure routes and storage spaces 
in emergency response measures, like the 
on-site assessment, to salvage and secure 
collections and buildings.

risk  of 

the 

14

PRIORITY AREA 2 – Risk management and preparedness

■  Ensure  efficient  emergency  responses  for 
cultural heritage by enhancing inter-agency 
coordination and cooperation. This could be 
done by conducting joint in-person training 
and  simulations  for  emergency  services, 
civil  protection,  heritage  professionals, 
community  volunteers,  cultural  heritage 
first aiders and heritage protection officials.
■  Update  the  digital  database  on  cultural 
heritage  to  include  vital  information  such 
as site maps and floor maps of significant 
this  database 
cultural  assets.  Make 
accessible  to  emergency  management 
participants  and  cultural  heritage  first 
aiders.

purchasing 

■  Earmark  emergency  funds  and  make 
them  readily  available  for  post-event 
damage and risk assessments, emergency 
documentation, 
personal 
protective equipment and conservation and 
packaging supplies, creating and equipping 
temporary  storage  areas,  the  emergency 
stabilisation  of  heritage  structures  and 
the transportation of supplies and cultural 
materials.
■  Consider 

establishing  a  government 
body  with  regional  branches  dedicated 
to  humanitarian  demining  and  ordnance 
technically, 
supported 
removal, 
professionally  and  financially  by 
the 
international  community.  Minefields  and 
unexploded  ordnance  pose  significant 

safety issues in post-war regions, adversely 
impacting  daily  life,  recovery  efforts  and 
the  country’s  development.  This  body 
should:

a)  operate in accordance with interna-
tional standards, engaging certified 
companies in demining operations;

b)  run a training programme covering 

advanced mine detection methods and 
specialised equipment such as, but 
not limited to, metal detectors, mine 
detection dogs and robots with AI;

c)  develop operational procedures, pro-

vide technical support, mark hazardous 
locations and research and improve 
demining strategies;

d)  have an alert system and continu-

ously updated maps available to the 
public via the web and an application, 
allowing people to avoid suspected 
mine areas and unexploded ordnance, 
educate the population, guide and 
collaborate with local communities, 
police, civil protection and moun-
tain rescue services and educational 
institutions, especially in return areas, 
contributing to the country’s long-term 
stability and recovery;

e)  take responsibility for any other 

operations as advised by an expert in 
this field.

PRIORITY AREA 3 – Documentation, monitoring and data collection

15

PRIORITY AREA 3 – 
Documentation, monitoring 
and data collection

1. Recommendations for immediate action

Data source protection must always ensure 
the  confidentiality  of  sources.  Collected 
data with open access and open intellectual 
property rights should be stored in certified 
repositories.  This  storage  must  adhere  to 
the  principle  of  ‘as  open  as  possible,  as 
closed as necessary’ in line with the open 
science  EU  policy (16)  and  must  align  with 
the ‘Findable, accessible, interoperable and 
reusable’ principles (17).

■  Encourage  and  support  the  building  of 
multidisciplinary  teams’  capacity  for  data 
collection,  management  and  monitoring 
at  all  levels,  ensuring  that  quality  and 
common  standards  on  documentation 
processes are implemented.

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

■  Support  the  independent  monitoring  and 
collection  of  data  on  damaged  cultural 
heritage as soon as possible after damage 
occurs,  including  the  safe  storage  of  such 
data.

■  Support  the  creation/updating  of  (digital) 
intangible 
inventories  of  tangible  and 
cultural 
digital 
heritage 
documentation  of  heritage,  in  accordance 
with international standards.

and 

the 

■  Support a repository of information on the 
tangible and intangible cultural heritage of 
Ukraine  as  a  planning  tool  and  an  online 
portal  to  help  navigate  the  system  by 
connecting  digital  infrastructure  (common 
cloud  environment)  and  making  (non-
sensitive) data widely and safely accessible. 

(16) https://rea.ec.europa.eu/open-science_en.
(17) https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/.

16

PRIORITY AREA 3 – Documentation, monitoring and data collection

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

the  organisation  of  training,  workshops 
and awareness-raising activities. (National 
government only.)

■  Use  trustworthy  AI  (lawful,  ethical  and 
robust),  in  alignment  with  the  EU’s  ‘Ethics 
guidelines  for  trustworthy  AI’  (18),  the  EU 
AI  Act  (19),  UNESCO’s  Recommendation  on 
the  Ethics  of  Artificial  Intelligence  (2021) 
(20)  and  other  international  laws,  for  the 
implementation  of  tasks  related  to  the 
monitoring  of  cultural  property,  including 
illegal archaeological excavation and illicit 
trafficking  of  cultural  property.  (National 
government only.)

■  Strengthen  contacts  with 

Interpol,  the 
European Union Agency for Law Enforcement 
Cooperation,  specialised  law  enforcement 
units, the World Customs Organization and 
the  international  art  market  to  prevent 
and  fight  against  the  illicit  trafficking  of 
Ukrainian cultural property and to facilitate 
the  return  of  displaced  objects.  (National 
government only.)

■  Disseminate  available  guidelines  and 
international 
to 
standards 
documentation  and  monitoring  through 

related 

■  Collect  and  use  existing  geospatial  data, 
including in collaboration with citizens, for 
documentation  and  monitoring  purposes, 
using  smartphones  and  Global  Positioning 
System-equipped  devices.  This  can  be 
used  for  illegal  excavations,  plundering, 
the  removal  of  objects  from  unprotected 
sites  and  the  illicit  trafficking  of  cultural 
property.  An  information  screening  and 
filtering  system  should  be  established  to 
provide accuracy and reliability to the data. 
(Local authorities only.)

■  Provide  access  to  training  and  workshops 
on data collection, and on the management 
and  monitoring  of  cultural  heritage  in 
line  with  EU  and  international  standards, 
in  order  to  support  the  development  of 
local  competences  with 
national  and 
multidisciplinary and multinational teams.
■  Administer  central  repositories  of  data 
pertaining  to  inventories  of  tangible  and 
intangible cultural heritage and the digital 
documentation  of  heritage, 
following 
international standards.

2. Recommendations for the long-term perspective

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

■  Support 

the  strengthening  of  digital 
capacities  in  the  cultural  heritage  sector 
in  Ukraine,  thereby  also  contributing  to 
economic growth, job creation, innovation in 
the IT sector and the return of professionals 
in the long term.

■  Support infrastructure that has been put in 
place to ensure data source protection and 
confidentiality of sources.

■  Provide  support  to  the  European  Union 
Agency  for  Criminal  Justice  Cooperation 
to  preserve,  analyse  and  store  evidence 
referring  to  alleged  crimes  against  or 
affecting cultural heritage.

■  Ensure that the EU and its Member States 
support the protection of Ukrainian cultural 
heritage by:

a)  having coordinated measures and 
policies at the EU level for the 
protection of Ukrainian cultural 
heritage;

b)  ensuring coordination among national 
law enforcement bodies and the 
relevant EU agencies on matters 
concerning the illicit trade of cultural 
property.

(18)   https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/

publication/d3988569-0434-11ea-8c1f-
01aa75ed71a1. 

(19)   https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj. 
(20)   https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/

recommendation-ethics-artificial-intelligence. 

PRIORITY AREA 3 – Documentation, monitoring and data collection

17

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
Ukrainian authorities do the following.

a  view  to  securing  individual  criminal 
accountability for deliberate action.

■  Carry  out  continuous  monitoring  and 
surveillance of the destruction of Ukrainian 
cultural  heritage,  to  collect  evidence  with 

■  Continue to provide open access and open 
intellectual  property  rights  to  data  via 
certified repositories that comply with the 
principle of ‘as open as possible, as closed 
as necessary’.

3. Recommendations for the continuous perspective

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Invest  in  the  digital  transformation  of 
the  cultural  heritage  sector,  allowing  all 
cultural institutions, sites and communities 
to provide digital data about their heritage, 
from  collections  to  buildings  to  cultural 
practices, etc.

■  Promote the continuous collection of data 
on tangible and intangible cultural heritage 
and  the  creation  of  databases,  provide 
equitable access to these databases in line 
with  existing  international  requirements 
the  necessary  digital 
and  develop 
infrastructure.

■  Consider 

developing 
(digital) 

complete 
inventories 

and 
up-to-date 
and 
documentation  (e.g.  through  the  scanning 
of analogue sources and the use of digital 
mapping  technologies  in  accordance  with 
international standards).

■  Foster 

the  systematic 

integration  of 
immovable cultural heritage protection into 
urban  planning  and  land-use  documents 
to  preserve  their  historical  and  cultural 
significance 
sustainable 
and  meet 
development requirements.
to 

international 
databases  of  stolen  cultural  property  to 
support the restitution of such property.

regularly 

■  Contribute 

18

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery of cultural heritage

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery 
of cultural heritage

1. Recommendations for immediate action

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

■  Provide 

support 

institutions  and 
to 
organisations involved in the protection and 
recovery  of  cultural  heritage,  in  particular 
damage  and  risk  assessment  and  early 
recovery  planning,  by  providing  them  with 
the following.

a)  Necessary methodologies and equip-

ment, software and conservation tools 
used in laboratories and workshops (21) 
and other resources specific to the 
needs of the institutions.

b)  Services for the non-invasive assess-

ment of building preservation, in areas 
including but not limited to advanced 
non-destructive techniques (22) and 
methods (23) to evaluate construction 
safety and building material condition 
and to prepare technical reports. The 

data gathered from these assess-
ments is used to determine the neces-
sary interventions for the building.

c)  Education and certification (includ-

ing the recognition and validation of 
competences) of cultural heritage 
professionals, using international best 
practices and European standards.

d)  Knowledge and practice in preserv-

ing cultural heritage assets, through 
collaboration with leading experts and 
studying best international practices. 
This involves advancing the under-
standing of traditional techniques, 
materials and tools and enhancing 
them with the latest conservation and 
restoration methods.

■  Provide 

to: 

(1) 
technical  assistance 
stimulate  the  redesign  of  policy-making 
processes  and  help  bring  Ukrainian 
legislation  in  line  with  EU  standards  (inter 
alia  through  the  Twinning 
instrument, 
the  technical  assistance  and  information 

(21)  Such as materials, equipment for biological, physical and chemical diagnostics, and tools and equipment for the 

conservation and restoration of murals and easel paintings or any other heritage artefacts.

(22)  Such as endoscopy, infrared thermography, sonic ambient vibration and imaging.
(23)  Such as seismic analyses, the finite element method and numerical modelling.

exchange  instrument (24))  and  with  the 
UNESCO’s  initiative  to  support  cultural 
law  review  and  codification 
launched 
in  2024  at  the  request  of  the  Ukrainian 
Parliamentary Committee on Humanitarian 
and  Information  Policy  and  in  cooperation 
with  the  Ministry  of  Culture  and  Strategic 
the 
(2) 
Communications; 
capacity of local stakeholders to approach 
donors  and  prepare  applications  for  EU 
funds.

strengthen 

■  Support  the  translation 

into  Ukrainian 
and/or  promote  relevant  standard-setting 
documents and good practices (see list of 
standard-setting documents in Annex 1).

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Given the current shortage of qualified local 
experts,  foster  the  recognition  of  foreign 
professional  qualifications  to  facilitate  EU 
and international cooperation in Ukraine.
■  Guarantee  an  efficient  and  operational 
education 
the 
system  and 
recognition  and  certification  of  Ukrainian 
cultural heritage professionals.

ensure 

■  Recovery  efforts  should  consider  and 
actively  support  the  sustainable  recovery 
of  living  heritage,  including  livelihoods, 
skills,  traditions,  festivals,  etc.  They  are 
indispensable  to  the  successful  recovery 
of  society,  the  economy  and  the  heritage 
sector and as stand-alone elements.

■  ‘Recognis[e]  that  culture,  in  all  its  forms, 
serves  as  a  lever  of  resilience  both  in 
times  of  peace  and  war,  acting  not  only 
as  a  foundational  element  for  economic 
and  social  development  but  also  as 
a  powerful  driving  force 
in  Ukraine’s 
emergency  response,  recovery  and  post-
war  reconstruction’ (Vilnius  Call  for  Action 
on  the  Recovery  of  the  Culture  Sector  of 
Ukraine (25)).

country’s 

■  Despite  the  ongoing  hostilities  in  Ukraine, 
the 
recovery  process  has 
already  begun,  and  regional  recovery 
plans  currently  exist,  most  often  in  the 
form  of  community  recovery  plans,  with 

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery of cultural heritage

19

civil-society  organisations  working  with 
other  stakeholders  in  most  cases.  To  be 
inclusive  and  sustainable,  the  recovery 
process  should  consider  the  reality  and 
efforts  at 
level  and 
the  community 
encourage  a  community-driven  approach, 
while  ensuring  that  community  needs 
and  participation  are  fully  considered  in 
regional and national plans and supported 
by bottom-up feedback mechanisms from 
the  community  level  to  the  regional  and 
national levels.

■  The  potential  of  heritage  recovery  and 
rehabilitation  to  enhance  social  cohesion 
and  foster  sustainable  peace  is  immense. 
By anchoring initiatives in the local contexts 
and  cultures,  heritage  recovery  efforts  in 
Ukraine –  especially  those  focusing  on 
social traditions and practices or interfaith 
ceremonies –  can  help  overcome  trauma 
and rehumanise places that have been on 
the frontlines and experienced violence. As 
such, careful consideration of what heritage 
is preserved or restored, along with where, 
when  and  by  whom,  is  key  to  enhancing 
the  role  of  heritage  in  healing  trauma 
and  promoting  peace  and  intercommunal 
harmony (see 
ICCROM’s 
Peacebuilding Assessment Tool for Heritage 
Recovery and Rehabilitation (26)).

instance 

for 

recovery  and 
in  Ukraine  must 

rehabilitation 
■  Heritage 
efforts 
identify  and 
proactively  address  the  negative  impacts 
of  climate  change  on  both  tangible  and 
intangible  heritage.  These  efforts  should 
simultaneously  support  the  research  and 
dissemination of knowledge, traditions and 
practices of local communities that promote 
the  sustainable  use  of  natural  resources, 
reduce disaster risk and encourage climate 
change adaptation and mitigation.

■  To  ensure  that  heritage  recovery  plays  a 
positive role in promoting climate action, it 
is crucial to move away from expert-centric 
discourses  and  develop  tools  that  make 
heritage  a  community-led  process.  This 
approach should aim to eliminate inequity, 
promote food security, peace and resilience 
and  reduce  exposure  and  vulnerability  to 
climate risks.

(24)  Twinning is a European Union instrument for institutional cooperation between public administrations of Member 
States  and  of  beneficiary  or  partner  countries.  Twinning  projects  bring  together  public  sector  expertise  from 
Member  States  and  beneficiary  countries  with  the  aim  of  achieving  concrete  mandatory  operational  results 
through peer-to-peer activities.
The Commission’s technical assistance and information exchange instrument supports public administrations with 
regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation and the facilitation of the sharing of 
EU best practices. 

(25) https://lrkm.lrv.lt/media/viesa/saugykla/2024/6/5Brk_FreYUg.pdf.
(26) https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/publications/2021-03/path_final_9.3.21.pdf.

 
20

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery of cultural heritage

■  It is equally essential to remove the mental 
and  physical  divides  between  nature  and 
culture  to  meet  the  challenges  posed  by 
climate  change  and  its  variability  head-
on.  When  heritage  interventions  are  not 
people-centric  or  eco-sensitive,  they  can 
escalate  tensions,  increase  injustice  and 
inequality and contribute to environmental 
degradation (27).

■  Place  green  transformation  at  the  centre 
of  rebuilding  and  reconstruction  projects 
and favour green solutions in architectural 
competitions and public tenders.

■  Integrate the new realities and needs when 
drafting  the  regeneration  and  adaptation 
plans of cultural heritage, including:

a)  a balance between new societal needs 
and the present meanings, properties 
and values of heritage;

b)  a balance between new, contem-

porary architectural expression and 
the present cultural and historical 
environments;

c)  innovative sustainable techniques 
being prioritised where appropriate;

d)  public buildings of cultural value being 
designed to be accessible and open for 
all, to serve society in a multifunction-
al way, fulfilling not only their direct 
functions (museum, library, etc.) but 
also working as community centres 
(places to gather and exchange) and 
shelters.

■  Strengthen  local  and  regional  capacities 
for  cultural  heritage  preservation  and 
increase  the  number  of  dedicated  and 
independent  personnel  to  support  the 
regional and local authorities in the design 
and  implementation  of  cultural  heritage 
preservation  and  recovery  strategies  by 
(Local authorities only.):

a)  preparing and approving urban plans 
and visions of redevelopment that 
integrate cultural heritage;

b)  creating and approving local guide-

lines for cultural heritage protection, 

including protocols and guidelines to 
enhance cultural heritage protection 
and preservation at the regional and 
local levels, and facilitating the or-
ganisation of training for regional and 
local staff to master such protocols 
and guidelines, in line with the most 
up-to-date and relevant guidance and 
best practices;

c)  prioritising and encouraging part-

nerships between the private sector, 
local authorities, cultural heritage 
organisations and local communities in 
recovery and development projects;

d)  identifying key cultural heritage 

sites for recovery based on historical 
significance, preservation status and 
community impact;

e)  coordinating financial, technical and 
human resources from all stakehold-
ers;

f)  developing shared visions that align 
with community values and needs;

g)  documenting, repairing and respon-
sibly using privately owned cultural 
heritage assets;

h)  creating joint public–private funds and 
grants and offering tax incentives and 
subsidies to private owners for herit-
age stabilisation;

i)  establishing continuous monitoring 

and evaluation mechanisms to update 
stakeholders on project progress and 
impact regularly.

contributions 

(CSOs)  by 
and 

■  Build strong partnerships with civil-society 
recognising 
organisations 
their 
capabilities. 
CSOs’  involvement  in  cultural  heritage 
conservation promotes social cohesion and 
engagement,  leading  to  lasting  positive 
societal  changes.  Support  CSOs  through 
funding, training and infrastructure by:

a)  establishing legal frameworks and 

formal agreements (28);

b)  strengthening collaboration with 

them (29);

c)  empowering civil society (30).

(27) https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/en_0_ccp_climate.culture.peace_report_web_iccrom_2022_.

pdf.

(28)  Regular  meetings  and  collaborative  decision-making  enable  CSOs  to  participate  in  project  planning  and 
implementation, ensuring sustainable, inclusive solutions for promoting and protecting cultural heritage and local 
community interests.

(29)  Improved cooperation facilitates more efficient data collection and project implementation, addressing specific 

local needs and priorities.

(30)  Providing  training  and  funding  helps  CSOs  enhance  their  capabilities  and  sustainability,  strengthening  their 

engagement and impact in broader societal contexts.

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery of cultural heritage

21

2. Recommendations for the long-term perspective

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the  Ukrainian  authorities  do  the 
following.

■  Support 

the  use  of 

innovative  and 
traditional  techniques,  quality  materials 
and  sustainable  technical  solutions  to 
foster  the  economic  revival  of  Ukraine  at 
the hromada/local level.

■  Provide engineering services for:

a)  structural analysis using modern, 

non-invasive methods to ensure the 
safety and stability of buildings while 
reducing risks to people and cultural 
heritage (31);

b)  geotechnical and geomechanical con-
trol (analysis of foundations and sub-
structure soil) (32) and prepare repair 
recommendations to restore damaged 
buildings and ensure their long-term 
stability and safety;

c)  additional support options (these 

complement the expert analysis and 
contribute to a holistic approach to 
cultural heritage protection), including:
i)  financial support (33),
ii)  technical equipment and train-

ing (34),

iii)  a network of experts in cultural 

tourism.

■  Foster  the  creation  of  a  laboratory  of 
innovative  green  solutions  in  rebuilding 
and reconstruction of heritage sites, which 
would be involved in the selection processes 
of  projects  to  be  realised  by  public 
authorities  and/or  with  the  use  of  public 
funding. Consult, enhance implementation, 
document  and promote green solutions  in 
recovery activities.
■  Increase  efforts 

local  and 
to 
international  funds  for  cultural  heritage 
recovery. Optimise existing traditional funding 
sources  while  introducing  new  financial 
methods.  The  following  strategies  can  be 
implemented  individually  or  synergistically, 
adapting to specific governmental needs and 
available resources.

raise 

a)  Public funding:

i)  government budget,
ii)  public–private partnerships,
iii)  international donations and funds,
iv)  heritage funds,
v)  tax incentives and subsidies,

(31)  The  objective  is  to  evaluate  construction  and  building  materials,  assess  the  structural  system,  determine  the 

extent of damage and evaluate material quality for repair and reinforcement purposes.

(32)  Evaluating load-bearing capacity, foundation material integrity and joint methods, and detecting soil deformations.
(33)  Providing direct financial grants or favourable loans for the recovery of cultural heritage and establishing funds 

for emergency interventions and long-term projects.

(34)  Providing specialised equipment, software and materials for restoration and conservation, along with organising 

training and seminars for local experts to enhance their skills.

22

PRIORITY AREA 4 – Recovery of cultural heritage

vi)  lottery funds (35),
vii) tourism revenue (36).

b)  Private funding:

i)  crowdfunding campaigns,
ii)  sponsorships and corporate sup-

port,

iii)  long-term contracts and partner-

ships,

iv)  the sale of products and services,
v)  bequests and legacies,
vi)  financial instruments (37).

■  Acknowledge 

the 

that 

varieties  of 
heritage  represent  assets  for  destination 
development  and  the  tourism  economy 
and  are,  in  this  perspective,  important 
for  economic  growth,  while  at  the  same 
time  guaranteeing  source-critical  and 
trustworthy  interpretations  and  narratives 
regarding  war-suffered  areas  prone  to  be 
subject to disaster tourism.

3. Recommendations for the continuous perspective

  The  expert  group  recommends  that 
the European Union do the following.

■  Use 

to 
its  Creatives  Unite  platform 
showcase the support initiatives of various 
stakeholders  related  to  good  practices  in 
cultural  heritage  recovery  in  Europe  and 
Ukraine (38).

The  expert  group  recommends  that 
Ukrainian authorities do the following.

■  Integrate  projects  of 

recovery  and 
regeneration  of  cultural  heritage  objects 
into the Ukrainian official Digital Restoration 
Ecosystem  for  Accountable  Management 
platform (39). (National government only.)

■  Create opportunities and promote education 
and training for officers of local authorities 
on  the  following  topics:  cultural  heritage 
protection  and  regeneration  management, 
the initiation and management of projects, 
work  with  communities  and  access  to 
funding. (Local authorities only.)

■  Prepare  and  approve  urban  plans  and 
visions  of  redevelopment  that  integrate 
cultural heritage. (Local authorities only.)

■  Create  and  approve 

local  guidelines 
for  cultural  heritage  protection.  (Local 
authorities only.)

■  Prioritise  and  encourage  partnerships 
between the private sector, local authorities, 
cultural  heritage  organisations  and  local 
in  development  projects. 
communities 
(Local authorities only.)

(35)  Utilise revenues from lotteries to finance cultural heritage recovery projects (similar to the Heritage Lottery Fund 

in the United Kingdom, BankGiro Loterij in the Netherlands, etc.).

(36)  Direct  income  from  tourism,  including  membership  fees  (tourist  associations),  tourist  taxes,  museum  tickets, 

cultural events and tourist guide services.

(37)  Attract investment through bonds or other financial tools tailored for monument recovery projects.
(38) https://creativesunite.eu/ukraine-map.
(39) https://dream.gov.ua/en.

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

23

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting 
texts and policy documents

This list is non-exhaustive.

Conservation 
concepts and 
principles

Reburial of 
archaeological 
remains

Protection of 
cultural property 
in the event of 
armed conflict / 
intentional 
destruction 

Protection and 
excavation of 
archaeological 
sites

The Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments (ICOMOS, 1931) (40)
International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (the Venice 
Charter) (ICOMOS, 1964) (41)
The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance (the Burra Charter) (ICOMOS, 
2013) (42)

The Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments (ICOMOS, 1931) (43)

The Hague Convention (including its two protocols), (UNESCO, 1954, 1999) (44)
UNESCO Declaration Concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 
2003) (45)
‘Report of the Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights’ (UN, 2016) (46)
Resolution 2347 (2017) (UN Security Council, 2017) (47)
Declaration of Dresden on the ‘Reconstruction of Monuments Destroyed by War’ (ICOMOS, 
1982) (48)
Policy on Cultural Heritage (Office of The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, of 
2021) (49)
Resolution Based on the Results of the Forum ‘War in Ukraine: The Battle for Culture’ (International 
Forum on Safety of Culture Heritage, 2023) (50)
Council conclusions on EU approach to cultural heritage in conflicts and crises (Council of the 
European Union, 2021) (51)
‘Protecting cultural heritage from armed conflicts in Ukraine and beyond’ (European Parliament: 
Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Policy Department for Structural and 
Cohesion Policies, 2023) (52)

Recommendation on International Principles Applicable to Archaeological Excavations (UNESCO, 
1956) (53)
Charter for the Protection and Management of the Archaeological Heritage (ICOMOS, 1990) (54)
European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Revised) (the Valletta 
Convention) (Council of Europe, 1992) (55)
The Valletta Principles for the Safeguarding and Management of Historic Cities, Towns and Urban 
Areas (ICOMOS, 2011) (56)

(40) https://www.icomos.org/en/167-the-athens-charter-for-the-restoration-of-historic-monuments.
(41) https://www.icomos.org/en/participer/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/157-the-venice-charter.
(42) https://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Burra-Charter-2013-Adopted-31.10.2013.pdf.
(43) https://www.icomos.org/en/167-the-athens-charter-for-the-restoration-of-historic-monuments.
(44) https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/convention-protection-cultural-property-event-armed-conflict-regulations-execution-convention.
(45) https://international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/irrc_854_unesco_eng.pdf.
(46) https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/831612?v=pdf.
(47) https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n17/079/04/pdf/n1707904.pdf.
(48) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/184-the-declaration-of-dresden.
(49) https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/itemsDocuments/20210614-otp-policy-cultural-heritage-eng.pdf. 
(50) https://www.maidanmuseum.org/en/node/2450.
(51) https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/50557/st09837-en21.pdf.
(52) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2023/733120/IPOL_STU(2023)733120(SUM01)_EN.pdf.
(53) https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/recommendation-international-principles-applicable-archaeological-excavations.
(54) https://icahm.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/1990-Lausanne-Charter-for-Protection-and-Management-of-Archaeological-Heritage.

pdf.

(55) https://rm.coe.int/168007bd25.
(56) https://civvih.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Valletta-Principles-GA-_EN_FR_28_11_2011.pdf.

24

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

International 
competitions in 
architecture and 
town planning

Illicit import, 
export and 
transfer / 
terror and illicit 
trafficking

Recommendation concerning International Competitions in Architecture and Town Planning 
(UNESCO, 1956) (57)

Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of 
Ownership of Cultural Property (UNESCO, 1970) (58)
UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (International Institute for 
the Unification of Private Law, 1995) (59)
Resolution 2347 (2017) (UN Security Council, 2017) (60)
Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (the Nicosia Convention) (Council of Europe, 
2017) (61)
Policy on Cultural Heritage (Office of The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, of 
2021) (62)

International 
perspective on 
cultural and 
natural heritage / 
rural landscapes / 
world heritage

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO, 
1972) (63)
ICOMOS-IFLA Document on Historic Urban Public Parks (ICOMOS, 2017) (64)
The advisory body ‘Our common dignity initiative’ on rights-based approaches in world heritage: 
Taking stock and looking forward – Report (ICOMOS, 2017) (65)
Guidance and toolkit for impact assessments in a world heritage context (UNESCO, 2022) (66)

Protection of 
underwater 
cultural heritage

Intangible 
cultural heritage / 
diversity 
of cultural 
expressions / 
human rights

Archives and 
libraries

Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2001) (67)

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003) (68)
2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions 
(UNESCO, 2005) (69)
The Valletta Principles for the Safeguarding and Management of Historic Cities, Towns and Urban 
Areas (ICOMOS, 2011) (70)
Buenos Aires Declaration Marking the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights (ICOMOS, 2018) (71)

Universal Declaration on Archives (International Council on Archives, 2011) (72)
IFLA Principles for the Care and Handling of Library Material (International Federation of Library 
Associations and Institutions, 1999) (73)
Recommendation concerning the Preservation of, and Access to, Documentary Heritage including 
in Digital Form (UNESCO, 2015) (74)

Museums

ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums (ICOM, 2017) (75)
‘Recommendations for museums when preparing for crisis and war’ (National Institute for 
Museums, 2024) (76)
‘Museum definition’ (ICOM, 2022) (77)

(57) https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381999.
(58) https://www.unesco.org/en/node/66148.
(59) https://www.unidroit.org/instruments/cultural-property/1995-convention/.
(60) https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/s/res/2347-%282017%29.
(61) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/cets-number-/-abridged-title-known?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=221.
(62) https://www.icc-cpi.int/sites/default/files/itemsDocuments/20210614-otp-policy-cultural-heritage-eng.pdf. 
(63) https://whc.unesco.org/en/conventiontext/.
(64) https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Charters/GA2017_6-3-2_HistoricUrbanPublicParks_EN_adopted-15122017.pdf.
(65) https://www.icomos.no/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Report_web.pdf.
(66) https://whc.unesco.org/en/guidance-toolkit-impact-assessments.
(67) https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/convention-protection-underwater-cultural-heritage?hub=412.
(68) https://ich.unesco.org/en/convention.
(69) https://www.unesco.org/creativity/en/2005-convention.
(70) https://civvih.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Valletta-Principles-GA-_EN_FR_28_11_2011.pdf.
(71) https://www.icomos.org/en/about-icomos/governance/general-information-about-the-general-assembly/list-of-general-assemblies/20th-
general-assembly-2018/52583-declaration-de-buenos-aires-marquant-le-70e-anniversaire-de-la-declaration-universelle-des-droits-de-l-
homme-2.

(72) https://www.ica.org/resource/universal-declaration-on-archives-uda/.
(73) https://www.ifla.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/assets/pac/ipi/ipi1-en.pdf.
(74) https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/recommendation-concerning-preservation-and-access-documentary-heritage-including-digital-form.
(75) https://icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ICOM-code-En-web.pdf.
(76) https://nim.gov.pl/files/news/957/zalecenia-kryzysowe-en.pdf.
(77) https://icom.museum/en/resources/standards-guidelines/museum-definition/.

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

25

Historic urban 
landscapes

Protection and 
promotion of 
museums and 
collections

Recovery and 
reconstruction

Disaster risk 
reduction / risk 
management

Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (UNESCO, 2011) (78)
Recommendation concerning the Safeguarding and Contemporary Role of Historic Areas (UNESCO, 
1976) (79)
Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas (the Washington Charter) 
(ICOMOS, 1987) (80)
The Valletta Principles for the Safeguarding and Management of Historic Cities, Towns and Urban 
Areas (ICOMOS, 2011) (81)
European Charter of the Architectural Heritage (Council of Europe, 1975) (82)
Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Council of Europe, 1985) (83)

Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, Their 
Diversity and Their Role in Society (UNESCO, 2015) (84)
ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums (ICOM, 2017) (85)
ICOM Cultural Diversity Charter (ICOM, 2010) (86)
‘Remarks by Chauncey J. Hamlin, President of International Council of Museums, delivered at the 
third session of the Interim General Conference held in Mexico City, November 11, 1947’ on the 
standardisation of museum practices (ICOM, 1947) (87)

Warsaw Recommendation on Recovery and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 
2018) (88)
Culture in City Reconstruction and Recovery (UNESCO, 2018) (89)
Declaration of Dresden on the ‘Reconstruction of Monuments Destroyed by War (ICOMOS, 
1982) (90)
ICOMOS–ICCROM guidance on post-disaster and post-conflict recovery and reconstruction for 
heritage places of cultural significance and world heritage cultural properties (ICOMOS–ICCROM 
(International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), 
2021) (91)

Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (UN, 2015) (92)
A Guide to Risk Management of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM, 2016) (93)
Council conclusions on risk management in the area of cultural heritage (Council of the European 
Union, 2020) (94)
Safeguarding Cultural Heritage from Natural and Man-made Disasters: A comparative analysis of 
risk management in the EU (European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport 
and Culture, 2018) (95)
Commission notice – Reporting guidelines on disaster risk management (OJ C, C/2019/8929, 
20.12.2019) (96)

(78) https://whc.unesco.org/en/hul.
(79) https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000114038.page=136.
(80) https://civvih.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Charter-of-Washington_10_1987.pdf.
(81) https://civvih.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Valletta-Principles-GA-_EN_FR_28_11_2011.pdf.
(82) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/170-european-charter-of-the-

architectural-heritage.

(83) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=121.
(84) https://www.unesco.org/en/legal-affairs/recommendation-concerning-protection-and-promotion-museums-and-collections-their-diversity-and-

their.

(85) https://icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/ICOM-code-En-web.pdf.
(86) https://inclusivemuseums.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ICOM-Cultural-Diversity-Charter-Latest.pdf.
(87) https://icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/005_ICOM_Interim-Conf_Hamlin2_1947_EN.pdf.
(88) https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265632.
(89) https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265981.
(90) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/184-the-declaration-of-dresden.
(91) https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/3183/1/ICOMOS-ICCROM_GUIDANCE_12012024.pdf.
(92) https://www.undrr.org/media/16176/download?startDownload=20240621.
(93) https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/2017-12/risk_management_guide_english_web.pdf.
(94) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52020XG0605(01).
(95) https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/8fe9ea60-4cea-11e8-be1d-01aa75ed71a1.
(96) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?toc=OJ%3AC%3A2019%3A428%3ATOC&uri=uriserv%3AOJ.C_.2019.428.01.0008.01.ENG.

26

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

Education and 
training

Authenticity 

Built vernacular 
architecture / 
architectural 
heritage

EU funds and 
their impact on 
cultural heritage

Tourism

Cooperation 

Guidelines for Education and Training in the Conservation of Monuments, Ensembles and Sites 
(ICOMOS, 1993) (97)
Charter on the Built Vernacular Heritage (ICOMOS, 1999) (98)
European Charter of the Architectural Heritage (Council of Europe, 1975) (99)
‘E.C.C.O. professional guidelines’ (European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers’ Organisations, 
2002) (100)
Competences for Access to the Conservation–Restoration Profession (European Confederation of 
Conservator–Restorers’ Organisations, 2011) (101)
Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (Core Human Standard Alliance, 
2014) (102)

The Nara Document on Authenticity (ICOMOS, 1994) (103)
Riga Charter on Authenticity and Historical Reconstruction in Relationship to Cultural Heritage 
(ICCROM, 2000) (104)

Charter on the Built Vernacular Heritage (ICOMOS, 1999) (105)
ICOMOS Charter Principles for the Analysis, Conservation and Structural Restoration of 
Architectural Heritage (ICOMOS, 2003) (106)
European Charter of the Architectural Heritage (Council of Europe, 1975) (107)
Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Council of Europe, 
1985) (108)
Resolution of the Ministers with responsibility for Cultural Affairs, meeting within the Council of 
13 November 1986 on the protection of Europe’s architectural heritage (OJ 86/C 320/01) (Council 
of the European Union) (109)

European quality principles for EU-funded interventions with potential impact upon cultural 
heritage (ICOMOS, 2020) (110)

ICOMOS International Charter for Cultural Heritage Tourism (ICOMOS, 2022) (111)

European Cultural Convention (Council of Europe, 1954) (112)
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European 
Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – Towards an integrated 
approach to cultural heritage for Europe, COM(2014) 477 (European Commission, 2014) (113)

Landscapes

Council of Europe Landscape Convention (Council of Europe, 2000) (114)

Value of cultural 
heritage for 
society

Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (the Faro 
Convention) (Council of Europe, 2005) (115)

(97) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/187-guidelines-for-education-and-

training-in-the-conservation-of-monuments-ensembles-and-sites.
(98) https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Charters/vernacular_e.pdf.
(99) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/170-european-charter-of-the-

architectural-heritage.

(100) https://www.ecco-eu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ECCO_professional_guidelines_III.pdf.
(101) http://www.nkf-s.se/uploads/5/1/7/3/51739425/2014_ecco_competences_en.pdf.
(102) https://www.chsalliance.org/get-support/resource/core-humanitarian-standard-2014/.
(103) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/386-the-nara-document-on-

authenticity-1994.

(104) https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/publications/2020-05/convern8_07_rigacharter_ing.pdf.
(105) https://www.icomos.org/images/DOCUMENTS/Charters/vernacular_e.pdf.
(106) https://www.icomos.org/en/about-the-centre/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/165-icomos-charter-principles-for-

the-analysis-conservation-and-structural-restoration-of-architectural-heritage.

(107) https://www.icomos.org/en/charters-and-texts/179-articles-en-francais/ressources/charters-and-standards/170-european-charter-of-the-

architectural-heritage.

(108) https://rm.coe.int/168007a087.
(109) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:41986X1213:EN:HTML.
(110) https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2436/1/EUQS_revised-2020_EN_ebook.pdf.
(111) https://www.icomos.org/en/89-english-categories/home/118410-the-new-icomos-international-charter-for-cultural-heritage-tourism-supports-

a-more-responsible-and-sustainable-tourism-management.

(112) https://www.coe.int/en/web/culture-and-heritage/european-cultural-convention.
(113) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2014:477:FIN.
(114) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/-/council-of-europe-european-landscape-convention-ets-no-176-translations.
(115) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=199.

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

27

First aid and 
recovery

Cultural heritage 
and climate 
action

Standardisation

First aid to cultural heritage in times of crisis – Handbook (ICCROM, 2018) (116)
Peacebuilding Assessment Tool for Heritage Recovery and Rehabilitation – PATH – Toolkit on 
heritage for peace and resilience (ICCROM, 2021) (117)
‘First aid and resilience for cultural heritage in times of crisis (FAR) resources’ (ICCROM, 2022) (118)

European Cultural Heritage Green Paper – Putting Europe’s shared heritage at the heart of the 
European Green Deal (Europa Nostra, 2021) (119)
Strengthening Cultural Heritage Resilience for Climate Change – Where the European Green Deal 
meets cultural heritage (European Commission: Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport 
and Culture, 2022) (120)

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (see chart below)
‘Remarks by Chauncey J. Hamlin, President of International Council of Museums, delivered at the 
third session of the Interim General Conference held in Mexico City, November 11, 1947’ on the 
standardisation of museum practices (ICOM, 1947) (121)
‘About CEN’ (the European Committee for Standardization) (122) 

Digitisation

Declaration – Cooperation on advancing the digitisation of cultural heritage (European Union, 
2019) (123)

Legally binding treaties ratified by Ukraine and/or Russia

Treaty

The Hague Convention (UNESCO, 1954)

European Cultural Convention (Council of Europe, 1954)

Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and 
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (UNESCO, 1970)

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage 
(UNESCO, 1972)

European Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (the Nicosia Convention) 
(Council of Europe, 1985)

Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Council of Europe, 
1985)

Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe (Council of 
Europe, 1992)

UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (International 
Institute for the Unification of Private Law Convention, 1995)

Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural 
Property (UNESCO, 1999)

 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2001)

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (UNESCO, 2003)

2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural 
Expressions (UNESCO, 2005)

Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society 
(the Faro Convention) (Council of Europe, 2005)

Convention on Offences relating to Cultural Property (the Nicosia Convention) (Council 
of Europe, 2017)

Ratified by 
Ukraine
Yes

Ratified 
by Russia
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

No

No

No

No

(116) https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/2018-10/fac_handbook_print_oct-2018_final.pdf.
(117) https://www.iccrom.org/sites/default/files/publications/2021-03/path_final_9.3.21.pdf.
(118) https://www.iccrom.org/programmes/first-aid-and-resilience-times-crisis-far/resources.
(119) https://issuu.com/europanostra/docs/20210322-european_cultural_heritage_green_paper_fu.
(120) https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4bfcf605-2741-11ed-8fa0-01aa75ed71a1/language-en.
(121) https://icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/005_ICOM_Interim-Conf_Hamlin2_1947_EN.pdf.
(122) https://www.cencenelec.eu/about-cen/.
(123) https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/repository/document/2019-15/scanned_signed_declaration_090419_A4EA8EC1-E348-62E7-

2257B0139A47C785_58564.pdf.

28

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

International Organization for Standardisation

Emergency 
preparedness and 
response

Damage 
assessment

Libraries, 
archives, 
museums

Libraries, 
archives, 
museums

ISO 21110:2019 – Information and documentation – Emergency preparedness 
and response

PD CEN/TS 17135:2020 – Conservation of cultural heritage – General terms for 
describing the alterations of objects

UNE-EN 16095:2016 (R2018) – Conservation of cultural property – Condition 
recording for movable cultural heritage

VDI 3798 Blatt 1:2020-07 – Material cultural heritage – Documentation, 
examination and preservation including consideration of environmental impacts

NBN EN 17488:2021 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Procedure for the 
analytical evaluation to select cleaning methods for porous inorganic materials 
used in cultural heritage

Built heritage

UNE-EN 16096:2016 (R2018) – Conservation of cultural property – Condition 
survey and report of built cultural heritage

Conservation 
process

Archaeological 
sites

16873:2017-02 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Guidelines for 
management of waterlogged wood on archaeological terrestrial sites

Environmental 
conditions
(temperature and 
humidity)

UNE-EN 17652:2023 – Cultural heritage – Assessment and monitoring of 
archaeological deposits for preservation in situ

UNE 41810:2017 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Intervention criteria for 
stone materials

ISO 16853:2017 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Conservation process – 
Decision making, planning and implementation

UNE-EN 16682:2018 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Methods of 
measurement of moisture content, or water content, in materials constituting 
immovable cultural heritage

Libraries, 
archives, 
museums

Built heritage

Archives and 
libraries

DIN/TR 67702:2020-12 – Information and documentation – Management of 
the environmental conditions for archive and library collections

Libraries, 
archives, 
museums

UNE-EN 15759-2:2018 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Indoor climate – 
Part 2: Ventilation management for the protection of cultural heritage buildings 
and collections

16242:2013-03 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Procedures and 
instruments for measuring humidity in the air and moisture exchanges between 
air and cultural property

EN 15757:2010-12 – Conservation of Cultural Property – Specifications for 
temperature and relative humidity to limit climate-induced mechanical damage in 
organic hygroscopic materials

Churches

EN 15759-1:2012 (R2017) – Conservation of cultural property – Indoor 
climate – Part 1: Guidelines for heating churches, chapels and other places of 
worship

Pest management Libraries, 
archives, 
museums

ISO 16790:2016 – Integrated pest management (IPM) for protection of cultural 
heritage

Annex 1 – Relevant standard-setting texts and policy documents

29

Recovery

Procurement

UNE-EN 17429:2021 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Procurement of 
conservation services and works

Cleaning

UNE-EN 16782:2018 (R2021) – Conservation of cultural heritage – Cleaning of 
porous inorganic materials – Laser cleaning techniques for cultural heritage

Transport

EN 16648:2015-11 – Conservation of cultural heritage – Transport methods

Premises

Generic

EN 15946:2016 – Conservation of cultural property – Packing principles for 
transport.

UNE-EN 16893:2019 – Conservation of Cultural Heritage – Specifications for 
location, construction and modification of buildings or rooms intended for the 
storage or use of heritage collections

Archives and 
libraries

ISO 11799:2015 – Information and documentation – Document storage 
requirements for archive and library materials

Collection 
management

Archives and 
libraries

ISO/TR 19814:2017 – Information and documentation – Collections 
management for archives and libraries

Built heritage

ISO/FDIS 5727 – Accessibility and usability of the built environment – 
Accessibility of immovable cultural heritage – Principles and methodology for 
interventions

30

Annex 2 – Composition of the expert group

Annex 2 – 
Composition of the expert group

Experts representing organisations

Organisation
UNESCO
1�

ICOM

ICCROM

Council of Europe

Representative
Chiara Dezzi Bardeschi (replacing Nadia Ammi)

Anastasiia Cherednychenko

Aparna Tandon

Edin Veladzic

Italian Civil Protection Department

Veronica Piacentini

ICOMOS

Bibliothèque Nationale de France

The International Alliance for the Protection of 
Heritage in Conflict Areas
Cultural Emergency Response

Riin Alatalu

Céline Allain

Alexandra Fiebig

Vanessa Fraga Prol

2�

3�

4�

5�

6�

7�

8�

9�

10�

Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research Nina Kjølsen Jernæs

11�

The Ukrainian Association of Archaeologists

Anton Korvin-Piotrovskyi

Kjersti Marie Ellewsen (alternate)

Architects’ Council of Europe

European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers 
Organisation

Olha Demchenko (alternate)

Ruta Leitanaite

Elis Marçal

Kristian Schneider (alternate)

Éléonore Kissel (alternate)

Society of Friends of Kraków History and Heritage Katarzyna Jagodzińska (replacing Jacek Purchla)

Cultural Heritage Without Borders

Bo Lagerqvist

12�

13�

14�

15�

Experts appointed in their individual capacity

Individual
16�

Dante Abate

17�

Antonina Chaban

18� Milena Chorna

19�

20�

21�

22�

Kateryna Goncharova

Azra Hadzic

Jan Hladík

Andrij Kutnyi

23� Mara Popescu

24�

Ihor Poshyvailo

25�

Elke Selter

26�

Katarzyna Zalasińska

Current occupation 
Researcher, Eratosthenes Centre of Excellence

Researcher / Heritage scientist, Italian National Research 
Council
Cultural heritage expert, National Museum of the History of 
Ukraine in the Second World War
Ukrainian heritage crisis specialist, World Monuments Fund

Architectural engineer / Independent specialist for built 
heritage conservation
Independent expert

Independent expert

Senior lecturer, George Emil Palade University of Medicine 
Pharmacy, Science and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, Romania
General director of the National Memorial and Museum of the 
Revolution of Dignity / Co-founder of the Heritage Emergency 
Response Initiative / Vice president of the ICOM Disaster 
Resilient Museums Committee
Coordinator of heritage in emergencies, Belgian Royal Institute 
for Cultural Heritage
Academic researcher / Expert in cultural heritage law, Polish 
National Institute of Culture Heritage

Representatives of the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, Cultural Policy Unit:
- Catherine Magnant, Head of Unit
- Stefan Zotti, Team Leader - Cultural Heritage
- Willy Kokolo, Policy Officer - Culture

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH THE EU

In person

All over the European Union there are hundreds of Europe Direct centres. You can find the address 
of the centre nearest you online (european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/meet-us_en).

On the phone or in writing

Europe Direct is a service that answers your questions about the European Union. You can contact 
this service:

by freephone: 00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11 (certain operators may charge for these calls),

at the following standard number: +32 22999696,

via the following form: european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/write-us_en.

FINDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE EU

Online

Information about the European Union in all the official languages of the EU is available on the 
Europa website (european-union.europa.eu).

EU publications

You can view or order EU publications at op.europa.eu/en/publications. Multiple copies of free 
publications can be obtained by contacting Europe Direct or your local documentation centre 
(european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/meet-us_en).

EU law and related documents

For access to legal information from the EU, including all EU law since 1951 in all the official 
language versions, go to EUR-Lex (eur-lex.europa.eu).

EU open data

The portal data.europa.eu provides access to open datasets from the EU institutions, bodies and 
agencies. These can be downloaded and reused for free, for both commercial and non-commercial 
purposes. The portal also provides access to a wealth of datasets from European countries.

Print 
PDF 

ISBN 978-92-68-18668-8 
ISBN 978-92-68-18666-4 

doi:10.2766/632426 
doi:10.2766/704296 

NC-02-24-704-EN-C 
NC-02-24-704-EN-N