Proper funding for 2018 - European Year of Cultural Heritage 

Lehdistötiedote 
 
 

MEPs secured €8 million for cultural projects aiming to protect and promote Europe’s shared cultural heritage, as part of the 2018 European Year of Cultural Heritage.

"This topic is one of the few where doctrinal controversies do not have a place.  This initiative goes beyond politics or natural competition between states. The European Year of Cultural Heritage is an initiative which can unite and prove that the European space of our 27 nations is one belonging to a unitary civilisation founded on a common history and benefiting from globally outstanding heritage” said rapporteur Mircea Diaconu (ALDE, RO) after the vote on Thursday.


“Our duty going forward, and first of all that of the European Parliament which is directly elected by the citizens, is precisely to restore the relationship between Brussels and the European citizens. Making 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage is a great step towards rebuilding this fundamental connection", he added.



Background


The main objective of this European Year is to promote the role of European cultural heritage as a pivotal component of cultural diversity, by making cultural heritage accessible to more people, promoting innovative models for managing cultural heritage, developing specialised skills or promoting heritage as a source of inspiration for contemporary creation and innovation and developing its role in social cohesion, sustainable tourism and local employment.


Next steps


The Council should adopt this text at the first reading.