Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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| 10.11.2021 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 456/24 |

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P9\_TA(2021)0008

Achieving an effective policy legacy for the European Year of Cultural Heritage

European Parliament resolution of 20 January 2021 on achieving an effective policy legacy for the European Year of Cultural Heritage (2019/2194(INI))

(2021/C 456/03)

The European Parliament,

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| — | having regard to the Preamble to the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which states that the signatories draw ‘inspiration from the cultural, religious and humanist inheritance of Europe’ and desire to ‘deepen the solidarity between their peoples while respecting their history, their culture and their traditions’, as well as to Article 3(3) TEU, |

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| — | having regard to Article 167 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), |

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| — | having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, and in particular Article 22 thereof, |

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| — | having regard to the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 33rd session on 20 October 2005 [(1)](#ntr1-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0001), |

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| — | having regard to the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 17th session on 16 November 1972 (the World Heritage Convention) [(2)](#ntr2-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0002), |

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| — | having regard to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 32nd session on 17 October 2003 [(3)](#ntr3-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0003), |

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| — | having regard to the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 31st session on 2 November 2001 [(4)](#ntr4-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0004), |

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| — | having regard to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict [(5)](#ntr5-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0005), |

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| — | having regard to the Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, adopted by the UNESCO General Conference at its 16th session of 14 November 1970 [(6)](#ntr6-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0006), |

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| — | having regard to the Council conclusions of 15 November 2018 on the Work Plan for Culture 2019-2022, |

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| — | having regard to the communication of 22 May 2018 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on ‘A New European Agenda for Culture’ (COM(2018)0267), |

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| — | having regard to the report of 28 October 2019 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation, results and overall assessment of the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 (COM(2019)0548), |

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| — | having regard to the communication of 11 December 2019 from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the European Green Deal (COM(2019)0640), |

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| — | having regard to Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State and amending Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 [(7)](#ntr7-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0007), |

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| — | having regard to its resolution of 8 September 2015 entitled ‘Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe’ [(8)](#ntr8-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0008), |

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| — | having regard to its report of 23 November 2018 on the New European Agenda for Culture, |

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| — | having regard to its resolution of 19 September 2019 on the importance of European remembrance for the future of Europe [(9)](#ntr9-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0009), |

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| — | having regard to the Council conclusions of 25 November 2014 on participatory governance of cultural heritage [(10)](#ntr10-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0010), |

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| — | having regard to the Council resolution of 26 June 2000 on the conservation and enhancement of European cinema heritage [(11)](#ntr11-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0011), |

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| — | having regard to the Council conclusions of 21 May 2014 on cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable Europe [(12)](#ntr12-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0012), |

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| — | having regard to the Council conclusions of 8 June 2018 on the need to bring cultural heritage to the fore across policies in the EU [(13)](#ntr13-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0013), |

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| — | having regard to the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention) of 13 October 2005 [(14)](#ntr14-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0014), |

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| — | having regard to the Commission staff working document of 5 December 2018 on the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage (SWD(2018)0491), |

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| — | having regard to the resolution of 22 November 2019 of the Council of the European Union and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council on the cultural dimension of sustainable development (13956/19), |

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| — | having regard to the Eurobarometer Survey on Cultural Heritage (Special Eurobarometer 466) [(15)](#ntr15-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0015), |

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| — | having regard to the Commission communication of 22 July 2014 entitled ‘Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe’ (COM(2014)0477), |

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| — | having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of November 2014 on the Commission communication ‘Towards an integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe’ (2015/C 195/04) [(16)](#ntr16-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0016), |

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| — | having regard to Decision (EU) 2017/864 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on a European Year of Cultural Heritage (2018) [(17)](#ntr17-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0017), |

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| — | having regard to the Commission recommendation of 27 October 2011 on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation (2011/711/EU) [(18)](#ntr18-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0018), |

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| — | having regard to the declaration of cooperation on advancing digitisation of cultural heritage of 9 April 2019 [(19)](#ntr19-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0019), |

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| — | having regard to the communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the Commission Work Programme 2020 — A Union that strives for more (COM(2020)0037), |

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| — | having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 19 September 2018 on the contribution of Europe’s rural areas to the 2018 Year of Cultural Heritage ensuring sustainability and urban/rural cohesion (NAT/738-EESC-2018-01641), |

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| — | having regard to the Davos Declaration 2018 on promoting high-quality Baukultur in Europe [(20)](#ntr20-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0020), |

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| — | having regard to the Leeuwarden Declaration of 23 November 2018 on the Adaptive Re-use of the Built Heritage [(21)](#ntr21-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0021), |

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| — | having regard to the declaration adopted at the informal meeting of the Member States' ministers responsible for cultural and European affairs of 3 May 2019 following the fire at the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris [(22)](#ntr22-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0022), |

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| — | having regard to the Council of Europe’s European Cultural Convention of 19 December 1954 [(23)](#ntr23-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0023), |

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| — | having regard to Europa Nostra’s Berlin Call to Action (‘Cultural Heritage for the Future of Europe’) of 22 June 2018 [(24)](#ntr24-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0024), and its Paris Manifesto (‘Relançons l’Europe par la culture et le patrimoine culturel!’) of 30 October 2019 [(25)](#ntr25-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0025), |

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| — | having regard to the 2015 study entitled ‘Cultural Heritage Counts for Europe’ [(26)](#ntr26-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0026), |

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| — | having regard to the Barcelona Declaration on Tourism and Cultural Heritage (‘Better Places to Live, Better Places to Visit’) of 11 October 2018 [(27)](#ntr27-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0027), |

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| — | having regard to the 2018 study entitled ‘Safeguarding cultural heritage from natural and man-made disasters’ [(28)](#ntr28-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0028), |

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| — | having regard to the 2019 document of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) entitled ‘European quality principles for EU-funded interventions with potential impact upon cultural heritage’ [(29)](#ntr29-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0029), |

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| — | having regard to the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (the Venice Charter 1964) [(30)](#ntr30-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0030), |

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| — | having regard to the 1985 Granada Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe [(31)](#ntr31-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0031), |

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| — | having regard to the 1992 Valletta Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe [(32)](#ntr32-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0032), |

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| — | having regard to the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards, |

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| — | having regard to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals 4, 11 and 13, |

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| — | having regard to Horizon Europe Pillar 2’s cluster ‘Culture, creativity and inclusive society’ [(33)](#ntr33-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0033), |

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| — | having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1295/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing the Creative Europe Programme (2014 to 2020) and repealing Decisions No 1718/2006/EC, No 1855/2006/EC and No 1041/2009/EC [(34)](#ntr34-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0034), |

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| — | having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 [(35)](#ntr35-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0035), |

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| — | having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1301/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 on the European Regional Development Fund and on specific provisions concerning the Investment for growth and jobs goal and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 [(36)](#ntr36-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0036), |

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| — | having regard to its resolution of 11 September 2018 on language equality in the digital age [(37)](#ntr37-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0037), |

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| — | having regard to its resolution of 13 November 2018 on minimum standards for minorities in the EU [(38)](#ntr38-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0038), |

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| — | having regard to its resolution of 11 September 2013 on endangered European languages and linguistic diversity in the European Union [(39)](#ntr39-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0039), |

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| — | having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2013 establishing Horizon 2020 — the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) and repealing Decision No 1982/2006/EC [(40)](#ntr40-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0040), |

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| — | having regard to the undertakings given by the then Commissioner-designate for innovation, research, education, culture and youth at her hearing before Parliament on 30 September 2019, |

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| — | having regard to Rule 54 of its Rules of Procedure, |

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| — | having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education (A9-0210/2020), |

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| A. | whereas Europe’s tangible, intangible, natural and digital cultural heritage is a source of wealth inherited from the past, bearing witness to European history, culture and traditions in all their diversity and being constantly enriched over time, which must be preserved in order to be transmitted to future generations; |

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| B. | whereas European cultural heritage is a source for remembrance, collective memory and knowledge which strengthens our common sense of belonging; |

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| C. | whereas culture and cultural heritage help strengthen one’s identity and promote social cohesion, stability and understanding in society; |

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| D. | whereas cultural heritage is a value in its own right, is diverse, and has multiple layers (local, regional, national, European and global) and forms (tangible, intangible, natural, digital and digitised) which are interconnected; |

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| E. | whereas cultural heritage provides a major contribution to the cultural and creative sectors in Europe and beyond; |

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| F. | whereas over 300 000 people in Europe are employed in the cultural heritage sector, while 7,8 million jobs in Europe are indirectly linked to the sector; |

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| G. | whereas during the European Year of Cultural Heritage (EYCH) in 2018 more than 23 000 events took place, reaching over 12,8 million people (2,5 % of the EU-28 population) [(41)](#ntr41-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0041) in the Member States [(42)](#ntr42-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0042); |

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| H. | whereas the strategic vision of the EYCH, articulated in its motto ‘Our Heritage: where the past meets the future’, remains valid as a guiding principle for its legacy aiming at building links between European cultural heritage and present cultural production, as well as fostering participation by European citizens; |

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| I. | whereas the EYCH activities were focused on the young generation and on interactive and creative projects; |

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| J. | whereas EYCH 2018 was held in a year with important historical anniversaries; whereas during that year many national and international celebrations and commemorative events took place, leaving a significant footprint on the European cultural map; |

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| K. | whereas one of the achievements of the EYCH was the establishment of a European stakeholder network with lasting ties; whereas this network should be sustainable and durable; |

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| L. | whereas local and pan-European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and organised civil society contributed immensely towards the success of EYCH; |

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| M. | whereas according to the Eurobarometer survey on cultural heritage, 84 % of respondents in Member States are of the view that cultural heritage is important to them personally and to their local community, while eight in ten (80 %) think it is important for the European Union as a whole; |

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| N. | whereas nearly a third of the sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List are located in the EU-27, including 326 cultural sites, 26 natural sites and five mixed sites; whereas Europe as a whole accounts for nearly half of UNESCO’s World Heritage List; |

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| O. | whereas UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity includes at least 131 inscriptions that are attributed to EU-27 countries; |

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| P. | whereas Europe and North America account for 52 % of inscriptions in UNESCO’s Memory of the World International Register; |

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| Q. | whereas 48 European sites have thus far been awarded the European Heritage Label; |

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| R. | whereas nearly nine out of ten (88 %) Europeans surveyed believe Europe’s cultural heritage should be taught in schools [(43)](#ntr43-C_2021456EN.01002401-E0043); |

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| S. | whereas EYCH 2018 demonstrated that the cultural heritage can provide a basis for international projects involving citizens of all age categories and enabling them to liaise with experts; whereas these projects proved to be a good tool for raising awareness of common European cultural history; |

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| T. | whereas the rise of digitalisation creates new possibilities and challenges for Europe’s cultural and creative sectors; |

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| U. | whereas the Work Plan for Culture 2019-2022 adopted by the Council on 21 December 2018 includes sustainability in cultural heritage as the first of the five priorities for European cooperation in cultural policymaking; |

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| V. | whereas the COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted most cultural events and severely hindered people’s ability to visit, enjoy and study a large part of Europe’s cultural heritage, with digital means often being the only possible way to access it; whereas restrictions on or prohibition of public gatherings and events, closures of museums and travel constraints have had very harmful consequences for artists and cultural operators; |

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| W. | whereas within the ongoing negotiation on the MFF 2021-2027 a window of opportunity is open for setting new and favourable terms for investment in cultural heritage from the European Structural and Investment Funds; |

Recognising the value of cultural heritage

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|  | 1. | Considers that cultural heritage is an invaluable resource, enabling us to reflect on history and critically engage with it, helping to identify not only different memories, but also the common threads that bind us all, thus promoting diversity, dialogue, cohesion, solidarity and mutual understanding as well as enriching knowledge of our tangible, intangible, natural and digital assets; |

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|  | 2. | Recognises the role of cultural heritage in promoting creativity, innovation and sustainability and for developing intellectual capacities; considers that cultural heritage can also be a source for inspiration and enjoyment and can contribute to recreational activities; |

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|  | 3. | Stresses that languages enable and promote the richness and diversity of European cultural heritage, as mother tongues are vectors of values and knowledge which are often used to transmit intangible cultural heritage; urges the Commission and the Member States to take greater action to protect, develop, and promote language diversity in the digital age, also by setting aside a sufficient budget for policies dealing with languages classified as endangered and developing awareness among EU citizens about the linguistic and cultural richness the communities concerned represent; |

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|  | 4. | Reminds the Commission and the Member States of the need to fully include the cultural heritage of the minorities present in Europe in any reflection on the European heritage, by committing themselves to recognising and promoting their contribution to the cultural, linguistic and artistic wealth and diversity of the Union and endeavouring to establish and implement concerted and coordinated measures for the sustainable management and promotion of these cultures; |

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|  | 5. | Highlights the role of European and pan-European cultural events and traditional cultural festivals in raising awareness of Europe’s cultural richness and diversity; encourages the Member States to promote and support such activities and to protect their traditions; urges the Commission to consider financing such initiatives; |

Education and skills

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|  | 6. | Stresses the importance of all types of education — formal, non-formal and informal –relating to cultural heritage and humanities, including history and philosophy, at all ages; believes that special attention should be paid to pupils and students with disabilities and to those from disadvantaged backgrounds; reiterates the significance of including various artistic forms such as music, film, theatre, literature, design and architecture in school curricula or in curriculum support activities; believes that various existing materials produced on the occasion of the EYCH, such as the relevant eTwinning kit, should be promoted more actively; calls on the Commission to more comprehensively integrate cultural heritage in its strategy for a European Education Area, in order to help students develop a strong sense of European citizenship; |

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|  | 7. | Considers in this regard that the House of European History must be provided with adequate funding so that it can become a knowledge and collaboration hub for young researchers, teachers and students from across the EU and can also serve as an instrument for the promotion of European cultural heritage; considers it necessary to develop additional ways of promoting access to the House through, inter alia, digital tours so that it can fully play its role as a gateway for all sections of the public to learn about shared European experiences and their diverse interpretations; encourages in this regard the gradual establishment, subject to financial capabilities, of a pan-European collaboration network of centres within the framework of the House; |

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|  | 8. | Highlights the increasing role that digital education can play in enabling learning about and through cultural heritage; notes the need to develop high-quality e-learning initiatives including massive open online courses (MOOCs) in order to make learning about cultural heritage more accessible and enhance heritage-related skills across Europe; considers in this regard that the Digital Education Action Plan can contribute significantly to the cause, and calls for the proposed updating of this plan to encompass support for cultural heritage education; |

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|  | 9. | Expresses its concern about the growing lack of skilled craftspeople, restoration professionals and heritage experts and the difficulties in attracting young people to learn these types of skills; stresses the lack of systemic approach and efficient mechanisms such as training courses in ancestral techniques for transmitting the relevant skills and knowledge, which is putting European heritage at risk; believes that in future quality preservation of cultural heritage will only be possible if the relevant skills and knowledge are comprehensively preserved, including via digital means, and passed on; calls on the Commission, therefore, to ensure that future initiatives on preservation of cultural heritage include the preservation of the necessary practices and knowledge; recalls the value of exchanges, and highlights in this regard the importance of the Erasmus+ programme, which also enables mobility of apprentices; |

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|  | 10. | Reiterates the need to improve socio-economic and labour conditions and gender balance, and to promote mobility opportunities for operators and workers employed in the cultural heritage sector, including for people with disabilities; notes in this regard the importance of recognition of professional qualifications; |

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|  | 11. | Underlines the need to continue strengthening the awareness-raising efforts concerning the value of cultural heritage for Europe and reaching out to citizens and stakeholders at the local level; highlights the importance of better knowledge of the European cultural heritage for the promotion of social cohesion, and notes that access to such knowledge would, in particular, favour the social and cultural inclusion of citizens from migrant backgrounds and their families; |

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|  | 12. | Welcomes the Commission’s proposal to set up a new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) on cultural and creative industries (CCI) within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), reflecting social diversity and in which cultural heritage should also be seen as a source of inspiration for contemporary creations and solutions; |

Digital cultural heritage

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|  | 13. | Recognises the importance of digital cultural heritage, with an increasing number of people, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds and people with disabilities, having unparalleled opportunities and equitable access for engaging with cultural material; acknowledges the increasing relevance of digital cultural heritage, especially during pandemics and the associated lockdowns whereby virtual museum tours and exhibitions, digital libraries, online encyclopaedias and similar digital solutions and virtual communication tools provide solace and are the only means for people to access and engage with cultural heritage and culture more broadly; stresses the importance of digitising cultural material so as not only to preserve it for future generations (the storing function), but to also make it more easily accessible to audiences by bringing cultural heritage online; |

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|  | 14. | Highlights that relevant technological advances such as digital survey, 3D modelling and printing, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), as well as the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data, are opening new possibilities not only for capturing, preserving and visualising cultural heritage, but also for processing, analysing, reconstructing and developing applications for it; |

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|  | 15. | Highlights the importance of the Europeana project, serving as Europe’s digital library, archive and museum and education platform; calls for greater efforts to develop the platform further, including by allocating adequate funding for it, and by promoting it more to the general public and teachers; |

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|  | 16. | Is of the view that the material to be digitised must be selected in an unbiased way so as to ensure the credibility of digital archives and collections; |

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|  | 17. | Underlines the need also to promote the existence and value of digitised archives, as well as to improve the digital skills of the public so that the uptake of digital content is increased; |

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|  | 18. | Believes that online encyclopaedias are an invaluable resource of verified and trustworthy information that enable access to and play a role in preserving and promoting cultural heritage, and are also a vital tool for classifying and providing sustained access to born-digital cultural heritage; is of the view that more resources should be devoted to the promotion, development and advancement of online encyclopaedias; |

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|  | 19. | Emphasises that interoperability is key to ensuring that digital content is usable and reusable in the long term; highlights in this regard the role of standards and frameworks; |

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|  | 20. | Calls for increased cooperation between Member States as well as the relevant sectors in order to comprehensively promote digitised cultural heritage; welcomes the Declaration of cooperation on advancing the digitisation of cultural heritage, which has now been signed by nearly all the Member States; |

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|  | 21. | Underlines the need to develop a comprehensive EU framework with adequate funding for the protection and promotion of digitised and born-digital cultural heritage; notes the need for national preservation policies with selection decisions that are based on clearly defined principles and carried out in an accountable manner; notes the invaluable contribution that digital curators can make in ensuring that digital cultural heritage is protected and is available to European and global audiences in various languages; notes with interest the many digitisation projects already carried out via the ERDF, and calls for the next programming period to allow for the continuity of this type of funding; |

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|  | 22. | Calls for a comprehensive update to the Commission’s recommendation of 27 October 2011 on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, in order to reflect technological progress and the challenges and opportunities of the past decade; considers, however, that the focus on digital heritage should not come at the expense of protecting existing tangible and intangible cultural heritage and the related jobs; |

Economic potential and sustainability

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|  | 23. | Emphasises that the cultural heritage sector contributes to economic development with noteworthy spillover effects in other economic sectors; reiterates the strong correlation between cultural heritage and sustainable development; |

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|  | 24. | Recognises that sustainable cultural tourism has a significant potential to generate growth and jobs in the EU, as already four out of ten tourists choose their destination on the basis of its cultural offering; stresses, however, that the promotion of cultural tourism needs to be done in an inclusive manner with regard to local communities and economies and to lifestyles and traditions, and needs to strike a balance between economic, social, cultural and environmental requirements; notes that cultural heritage offerings only recoup a minimal share of the economic value they generate, requiring new, alternative and stable sources of funding in order to continue to act as catalysers for sustainable tourism; |

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|  | 25. | Points out that the existence of cultural heritage sites encourages people to travel and learn about different societies and cultures; recalls that 72 % of those surveyed aged between 15 and 24 agree that the presence of cultural heritage can have an influence on their holiday destination; highlights in this regard the role the DiscoverEU initiative can play; notes, however, that the initiative has not benefited youth equally; calls on the Commission to find ways for better involvement of young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds and those from rural and remote areas of the Member States, as well as from Member States without good rail links to other EU countries; |

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|  | 26. | Urges the Member States to put strong mechanisms in place to prevent overexploitation of cultural heritage, including through poorly managed tourist flows; warns against the influence of short-term commercial interests that risk undermining the authenticity of cultural sites and practices and degrading their quality; welcomes in this regard the launch of the Cultural Heritage In Action programme, which strives via peer learning to help strengthen cultural heritage policies at local and regional level; stresses its preparedness to monitor and support the programme if it proves successful; |

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|  | 27. | Recognises the importance of the European Capitals of Culture in the promotion of cities and regions, since by building an economic framework around their cultural, artistic and social projects, they integrate the notion of sustainable tourism and enhance their tangible and intangible heritage, traditions and innovations, for the benefit and appreciation of all European citizens and of citizens beyond Europe’s borders; |

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|  | 28. | Recommends further efforts to encourage travel to less well-known and popular destinations and rural areas, as well as low-season travel, so as to promote sustainability and accessibility in tourism, especially for people with disabilities and the elderly; stresses the role that the EAFRD can play in supporting local tourism initiatives, especially through the LEADER programme; calls for this programme to be adequately funded for the 2021-2027 programming period; |

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|  | 29. | Is concerned about the impact on cultural heritage of pollution, vandalism, theft, poorly managed tourism and uncontrolled development, as well as of global warming and climate change, in particular due to increased occurrences of extreme weather events, including torrential rain, heatwaves, floods, fires and wind risk; stresses the need for action, including through knowledge sharing between the Member States, and calls on the Commission to propose concrete actions for preserving and protecting cultural heritage in light of these natural and human-made hazards; |

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|  | 30. | Underlines the role of civil society and the significance and value of volunteering for protecting and even discovering cultural heritage and highlighting its importance, as well as the knowledge, expertise and energy that volunteers bring to the cause; calls on the Commission and the Member States to continue to support actions in this regard; notes the role that the European Solidarity Corps can play in enabling young people to become involved in preserving and renovating Europe’s heritage and raising awareness; welcomes the specific call for cultural heritage under that initiative; |

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|  | 31. | Is further concerned at the threats to cultural heritage due to terrorism, both within Europe and beyond; condemns the destruction of cultural heritage sites; believes that the EU should play a more active role in promoting the restoration, conservation and protection of cultural heritage across the world; |

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|  | 32. | Is of the view that the EU should include protection of cultural heritage as one of the conditions for the accession candidate countries; |

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|  | 33. | Reiterates that the illicit trafficking of and trade in cultural artefacts, including through digital channels, is a serious issue with a global dimension that requires coordinated action not only among Member States, but also at international level; points out that any reflection on Europe’s heritage must also take a fresh look at works and cultural goods that have been looted, stolen or illegally obtained during wars; reiterates its support for the active promotion of provenance research within the context of the EYCH; |

Towards a strategic approach to cultural heritage

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|  | 34. | Calls on the Commission to adopt a more integrated approach towards cultural heritage, giving equal treatment to tangible, intangible, natural and digital heritage and approaching these dimensions as being interconnected and inseparable; |

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|  | 35. | Stresses the need to establish and properly support a permanent platform, with organised civil society at its core, for cooperation and coordination on cultural heritage policies at all levels, notably at the EU level; |

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|  | 36. | Acknowledges the European Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage; stresses that the actions encompassed within the Framework need to be fulfilled and matched with adequate resources; |

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|  | 37. | Is of the view that the findings and recommendations of the relevant studies commissioned by the Commission should be reflected in its actions for preserving cultural heritage; |

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|  | 38. | Reiterates its request to the Commission concerning the setting-up of a single EU portal to be called ‘Know Europe’, bringing together information from all the EU programmes funding cultural heritage, together with the establishment of a common approach within the Commission through improved cooperation across the different policy areas relating to cultural heritage; |

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|  | 39. | Regrets the fact that communication work about the European Heritage Label is not sufficiently developed and calls for support for the establishment of a network of the sites concerned; believes that locations that have already been awarded this label need to be promoted and offered logistical support; |

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|  | 40. | Calls for a strategic cooperation between the European Union and other international organisations, in particular UNESCO and the Council of Europe, in order to better coordinate efforts and common standards in preserving and promoting cultural heritage and exchange best practices; |

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|  | 41. | Notes that nearly three quarters of Europeans surveyed think public authorities should allocate more resources to cultural heritage; highlights the need to increase EU funding for activities related to cultural heritage; |

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|  | 42. | Stresses the need for increased funding for cultural heritage and culture more broadly in the post-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF); reiterates its call for the doubling of the budget for the Creative Europe programme and tripling of the budget for the Erasmus+ programme in the next MFF; highlights the potential of Creative Europe for building ties between living art and tangible and intangible cultural heritage; calls for the strengthening of the budget allocation for heritage research in Horizon Europe; notes the need for synergies between other sectorial policies as well as the structural funds, the various Union programmes including Horizon Europe, Creative Europe and LIFE, and the funding schemes, in order to truly bring cultural heritage to the fore; notes the importance of increasing the potential of the European Structural and Investment Funds as regards preserving the cultural heritage; reiterates its position that investment in cultural and sustainable tourism infrastructure should be considered as small-scale and eligible for support where the ERDF cofinancing does not exceed EUR 10 million, and that where infrastructure is considered world cultural heritage the ceiling should be raised to EUR 20 million; |

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|  | 43. | Believes that the European Green Deal should include actions to mitigate the impact of climate change on cultural heritage, recognising that cultural heritage can play an important role in achieving the climate sustainability goals through education, research and the readaptation of sustainable European traditional practices; |

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|  | 44. | Welcomes the quick response and the expression of solidarity by the cultural and creative sectors during the COVID-19 crisis by making cultural heritage widely and freely available online to the public; is alarmed at the tremendous impact that the fallout from COVID-19 will have on cultural heritage and the cultural and creative sectors; calls on the Commission to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the pandemic on the relevant sectors and the cultural heritage sector in particular; urges the Commission and the Member States to offer adequate and targeted financial support to alleviate the crisis in these sectors and aid the people employed in them, including access to social benefits for those in non-standard forms of employment; |

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|  | 45. | Calls for increased efforts to build on the momentum of the EYCH in order to develop it into a durable policy legacy at local, regional, national and European levels, since this in its turn would make a positive economic, cultural and social contribution and help develop the sense of belonging to the European cultural space for all Europeans, as well as that of shared responsibility for preserving, enriching and promoting cultural heritage; invites the Commission to consider organising another European Year of Cultural Heritage in the future; |

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|  | 46. | Calls for the cultural dimension of European integration, including heritage, to be included in the strategic topics for discussion in the forthcoming Conference on the Future of Europe; |

o

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|  | 47. | Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission. |

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